Sunday's briefing: Tuchel questions England attitude as Son hails Postecoglou
Harry Kane's goal was all that separated the teams in Barcelona, with Thomas Tuchel less than impressed by his side's efforts.
Northern Ireland were beaten by Denmark, while the fall-out from Tottenham's decision to sack Ange Postecoglou continued.
England labour
Jude Bellingham applauds the fans after England's narrow win (Bradley Collyer/PA)
England were booed after limping to a lifeless 1-0 win against Andorra as Tuchel's first away match in charge ended in forgettable and frustrating fashion.
The German coach called for relentlessness and patience against the side 173rd in FIFA's world rankings but got neither as the stuttering Euro 2024 runners-up were jeered at the end of both halves.
Kane turned in lively Noni Madueke's cross in the 50th minute, yet the goals did not flow from that point and slow play brought further grumbles.
Some fans made an early exit and there were more boos at the end of Tuchel's third win in charge.
England 'lacked seriousness and urgency'
Thomas Tuchel, right, and assistant Anthony Barry in the dugout in Barcelona (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Tuchel made no attempt to hide his unhappiness with England's performance.
'I didn't like the attitude how we ended the game,' the German said.
'I liked the attitude how we started the game, the first 25 minutes, but I didn't like the last 25 minutes, the last half an hour.
'I think we lacked the seriousness and the urgency that is needed in a World Cup qualifier.
'We played with fire and I didn't like the attitude in the end. I didn't like the body language and I think it was not what the occasion needed.'
Narrow loss for Northern Ireland
It's all over in Copenhagen. pic.twitter.com/EGMn7VkaTl
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 7, 2025
Northern Ireland suffered a friendly defeat in Copenhagen as Christian Eriksen got the winner in a 2-1 comeback victory for Denmark.
An early own goal from former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put Michael O'Neill's side on top but Gustav Isaksen levelled in first-half stoppage time before Eriksen swept home the winner in the 67th minute.
It was a second successive friendly defeat for Michael O'Neill's side, after March's 5-1 thrashing in Sweden, but was a much better defensive performance away to top-level opposition in their penultimate match before the World Cup qualifying campaign starts in Luxembourg in September.
O'Neill was was left with mixed feelings, saying: 'There's no shame in coming here and losing the game 2-1, not at all.
'But, in terms of where we need to get to as a team, we need to be able to retain the ball a little bit better, maybe find a little bit more in terms of level of possession and that will help us carry a bigger threat.'
Son praises 'legend' Ange
Son Heung-min hailed Ange Postecoglou as a 'Tottenham Hotspur legend' as the club's supporters' trust expressed 'concern' with another change in manager.
Postecoglou ended Spurs' 17-year wait for silverware with Europa League success over Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21, but it failed to earn the Australian a third season after a woeful league campaign.
Captain Son led the tributes to Postecoglou, writing on Instagram: 'Gaffer. You've changed the trajectory of this club. You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.
'You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it's had in decades. We will have those memories for life.
'You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It's been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close, I am a better player and a better person because of you.
'Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever.'
A Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust statement read: 'Our concern now is that it appears we will have yet another change of direction.'
What's on today?
Portugal vs Spain in the Nations League final 🤤
🇵🇹🆚🇪🇸 Sunday 8 June#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/SgkFCfQkih
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 5, 2025
The Nations League culminates in a high-profile clash between Iberian neighbours Portugal and Spain.
Both are looking for their second title in the competition, with European champions Spain bidding to retain their crown, while Cristiano Ronaldo has more silverware in his sights with Portugal.
Portugal have been buoyed by a rare win over Germany in the semi-finals, and Ronaldo said on uefa.com: '(We're) playing an amazing team, maybe the best in the world, but we're confident after what we did in our last tie. I hope we can rise to the occasion and win it.'
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