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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
England fail to fire against Andorra as Thomas Tuchel's experiment falters
Mixed emotions: Harry Kane scored his 450th career goal against Andorra, but England very much flattered to deceive (The FA via Getty Images) There are just 369 days until next year's World Cup, but England's performance against Andorra was not one to inspire you with confidence. Victory always felt inevitable, even when the game was goalless at half-time, however England were lacklustre on their way to a 1-0 win. Advertisement A long season, which isn't over for those heading to the Club World Cup next week, is surely partly to blame. As was the fact that Andorra did a decent enough job of sitting deep and frustrating England. Ranked 173rd in the world, and with bookmakers putting their chances of victory at 175/1, Andorra were happy to not have the ball. Indeed, in the opening 15 minutes, England had 90 per cent possession. That was the pattern of the whole game and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford could have got out a deckchair to enjoy the Spanish sun. Andorra, for the second game running, did not muster a single shot on target. England's own chances, in fairness, were hardly abundant. Noni Madueke drew a good save early on with a shot from outside the box. Harry Kane turned an effort wide from a Curtis Jones cut-back, while a mazy run from Morgan Rogers deserved more than being a highlight reel on social media. Advertisement When the goal came, five minutes after half-time, it was Kane that broke the deadlock. It was the 450th of his career and he won't have scored many easier. Madueke pounced after Kane's initial effort was saved and the Chelsea winger's cross left the England captain with the goal gaping from just a few yards out. It was a deserved assist for Madueke, who was a bright spark in an otherwise drab affair. It is difficult for anyone to state their case against a side of Andorra's calibre, but Madueke certainly did his best to leave an impression on Thomas Tuchel. This was the first time the 23-year-old has been involved under Tuchel, after missing the games in March through injury, and it surely won't be his last appearance. Advertisement Madueke was involved in many of England's best attacking moments and his only misstep was failing to score a golden chance late on. Tuchel took this World Cup qualifier as an opportunity to experiment because, if you cannot experiment against Andorra, then when can you? Not many of them, however, worked. Jones started at right-back, although he essentially played as a No10 when England had the ball. At times, he was even further forward than Cole Palmer or Jude Bellingham. Reece James, on the other flank, tucked in to form a back three and he did, at least, cause a few problems with his passing from deep. Advertisement Jordan Henderson played ahead of the defence, making his first England start since November 2023. Screening the back three was hardly an arduous task for the 34-year-old, who was the oldest male player to start a game for England since Frank Lampard in 2014. The win for England means they are still top of the of their World Cup qualifying group and it also secured a slice of history for Tuchel. He is the only England manager to win all of his first three competitive games without conceding. Those victories have come against Albania, Latvia and Andorra - and the far, far tougher tests are to come. On the evidence of this win, England have plenty to work on.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
England jeered after unimpressive win over minnows Andorra
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. This was the third time England have failed to score a first-half goal against Andorra in Barcelona, where the minnows kept out Steve McClaren's side in 2007 and Fabio Capello's team the following year. A 1-0 win for the #ThreeLions in Barcelona 👊 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 There was a breakthrough shortly after the break in both of those matches, just as there was in Saturday's World Cup qualifier when Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about. England's captain 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. The England boss had named an attack-minded line-up at the RCDE Stadium – where the match was held as Andorra's new ground was not quite ready – and saw his side boss 83 per cent of first-half possession. But the Group K leaders were unable to turn dominance into a first-half opener as well-drilled, defence-minded Andorra held firm on a warm evening in Spain. Jude Bellingham saw a shot saved inside the opening minute and Curtis Jones soon saw an attempt blocked, with Ezri Konsa then denied a penalty despite being wrestled to the ground. Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez looked uncertain at some set-pieces but produced some important stops, with his 14th-minute save from Madueke the most impressive. Kane struck wide from close range and Bellingham saw an attempt through a crowd saved but England's play was lacking incision. Andorra's support whistled for half-time as Bellingham saw a flicked header held in stoppage time, which ended with boos from unimpressed England fans. It was not only the performance that some supporters expressed anger with as Prime Minister Keir Starmer copped some flak at points during the first half. Ricard Fernandez's attempt to score Andorra's first goal against England went well wide early in the second half and the visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Jones slipped a ball through for stretching Kane to prod goalwards, with Madueke reacting quickest to Alvarez's save and sending a low ball back across for the skipper to stab home. England goal number 7️⃣2️⃣ for @HKane ⚽️🏴 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 Madueke was denied before Tuchel turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze. The latter saw a header tipped over by Alvarez, increasing Andorran anticipation when substitute Guillaume Lopez skipped past Dan Burn to see a shot blocked by Konsa. Play petered out as some England fans made an early exit, understandably preferring to get their Saturday night started in Barcelona rather than see through a dreary conclusion. There was a chance at the death but Andorra escaped, England fans letting their annoyance known but later applauding the players.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
England jeered after unimpressive win over minnows Andorra
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. This was the third time England have failed to score a first-half goal against Andorra in Barcelona, where the minnows kept out Steve McClaren's side in 2007 and Fabio Capello's team the following year. A 1-0 win for the #ThreeLions in Barcelona 👊 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 There was a breakthrough shortly after the break in both of those matches, just as there was in Saturday's World Cup qualifier when Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about. England's captain 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. The England boss had named an attack-minded line-up at the RCDE Stadium – where the match was held as Andorra's new ground was not quite ready – and saw his side boss 83 per cent of first-half possession. But the Group K leaders were unable to turn dominance into a first-half opener as well-drilled, defence-minded Andorra held firm on a warm evening in Spain. Jude Bellingham saw a shot saved inside the opening minute and Curtis Jones soon saw an attempt blocked, with Ezri Konsa then denied a penalty despite being wrestled to the ground. Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez looked uncertain at some set-pieces but produced some important stops, with his 14th-minute save from Madueke the most impressive. Kane struck wide from close range and Bellingham saw an attempt through a crowd saved but England's play was lacking incision. Andorra's support whistled for half-time as Bellingham saw a flicked header held in stoppage time, which ended with boos from unimpressed England fans. It was not only the performance that some supporters expressed anger with as Prime Minister Keir Starmer copped some flak at points during the first half. Ricard Fernandez's attempt to score Andorra's first goal against England went well wide early in the second half and the visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Jones slipped a ball through for stretching Kane to prod goalwards, with Madueke reacting quickest to Alvarez's save and sending a low ball back across for the skipper to stab home. England goal number 7️⃣2️⃣ for @HKane ⚽️🏴 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 Madueke was denied before Tuchel turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze. The latter saw a header tipped over by Alvarez, increasing Andorran anticipation when substitute Guillaume Lopez skipped past Dan Burn to see a shot blocked by Konsa. Play petered out as some England fans made an early exit, understandably preferring to get their Saturday night started in Barcelona rather than see through a dreary conclusion. There was a chance at the death but Andorra escaped, England fans letting their annoyance known but later applauding the players.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Harry Kane spares turgid England's blushes in World Cup qualifier against Andorra
Harry Kane scores in the 50th minute for England for a 1-0 win against ANdorra, who sit 173rd in the world rankings. PHOTO: REUTERS BARCELONA - Lacklustre England laboured to a 1-0 away win over Andorra to maintain their 100 per cent start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with captain Harry Kane's second-half goal sparing their blushes on June 7. On a sultry afternoon in Barcelona, Kane's scrambled effort shortly after the interval was all that separated Thomas Tuchel's team of Premier League household names with the side sitting 173rd in the world rankings. As expected, England dominated possession but were short of the quality expected with only Chelsea winger Noni Madueke managing to impress in a forgettable match. England secured the win, however, and sit comfortably at the top of Group K with three wins from three. 'It wasn't a great performance and I don't think many people will remember this one,' Kane, whose goal was the 450th of his career for club and country, told ITV Sport. 'It was a dry pitch, similar to next year at the World Cup so we will go away and analyse it. We weren't good enough on the ball but we take the three points and move on.' England are expected to be one of the favourites for next year's World Cup and while it is difficult to read too much into a turgid display against defence-minded Andorra, head coach Tuchel will know big improvements must be made. In six previous games against Andorra, England had scored 25 goals without reply, but even after they went ahead there was no sense the floodgates would open. Andorra created a couple of chances to heap real embarrassment on their visitors with substitute Guillaume Lopez denied a late equaliser by Ezri Konsa's block. Only Chelsea winger Noni Madueke managed to impress in an otherwise forgettable match. PHOTO: AFP From the opening whistle, England's build-up play was pedestrian and only Madueke garnished his reputation, especially before halftime with some penetrating runs. He tested Andorra keeper Iker Alvarez with a curling shot and set up a couple of other chances, one for Jude Bellingham who like most of England's team, looked flat and well off the pace after a long season. Kane wasted England's best chance in the first half, shooting wide from close range after another dangerous ball by Madueke had been turned back by Curtis Jones. If anyone was going to break the stalemate it was likely to be Kane, however, and he did so in the 50th minute, stabbing a shot high into the net after his initial effort was saved and Madueke was alert to whip the rebound to his skipper. Tuchel is the first England coach to win his first three games in charge without conceding a goal, but he did not try to put any gloss on a poor display. 'We are not happy of course,' he said. 'We lost the momentum completely after the first 25 minutes and couldn't get it back. 'We ended up in a period that wasn't good enough with a lack of urgency and a lack of quality and a lack of energy.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Evening Standard
3 days ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Noni Madueke singled out for Thomas Tuchel praise after Chelsea winger shines against Andorra
Madueke was playing for England for the first time under Tuchel and will hope that his performance on the occasion of his sixth senior cap will have pressed his case for involvement in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup next summer, should they qualify.
