England continued their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Andorra at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Despite dominating possession and entering the match as overwhelming favorites, the Three Lions delivered a somewhat uninspiring performance, struggling to create clear-cut chances against the European minnows ranked 173rd in the world by FIFA.
The game marked Thomas Tuchel's third match in charge of England, and he was aiming for a perfect start with three wins from three qualifiers. England had previously secured routine victories over Albania (2-0) and Latvia (3-0) at Wembley in March, establishing an early stranglehold atop Group K. With six points from two matches, they stood alone with a 100 percent record in their group.
Kickoff was set for 5 p.m. BST, with the match broadcast live on ITV1 in the UK, and available on Fox Sports 2, Sling TV, Fubo Sports Network, and ViX in the United States, Optus Sport in Australia, and DAZN in Canada. Fans abroad were advised on VPN use to access streams securely and comply with service agreements.
England fielded a strong starting lineup featuring goalkeeper Jordan Pickford; defenders Reece James, Tyrone Mings, Axel Tuanzebe, and Ben White; midfielders Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, and Cole Palmer; and forwards Noni Madueke, Harry Kane, and Morgan Rogers. Notably, Bukayo Saka was absent from the squad due to limited training participation, as confirmed by Tuchel prior to the match. Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Cole Palmer, and Noni Madueke, along with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice, were all part of the squad. Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was withdrawn as a precaution for a minor issue.
Andorra, struggling in the qualifiers with a 0-1 home defeat to Latvia and a 3-0 thrashing by Albania, lined up in a defensive 5-4-1 formation. They were without Albert Rosas, their joint second-highest goalscorer, placing the attacking burden on Ricard Fernandez Cucu, who had not scored in over a year.
The first half was largely uneventful, with England creating several half-chances but failing to break the deadlock. Andorra’s disciplined defense limited England to just four shots on target, mostly from distance. Noni Madueke was England’s brightest spark, demonstrating pace and skill on the right wing, and his cross in the 19th minute nearly set up Harry Kane for an open goal, only for a defender’s touch to deny the chance. Curtis Jones, deployed at right-back, also contributed with a brilliant pass in the buildup.
At halftime, some 7,000 England fans in attendance expressed mild frustration, reflecting the subdued nature of the performance. The ITV panel, including Karen Carney and Roy Keane, criticized England’s display, suggesting the team appeared to be in "holiday mode" and that their attitude after scoring was lackluster.
The breakthrough came five minutes after the interval. Madueke, who was later named man of the match, galloped into the box, and after a deflection, laid off a precise cross to captain Harry Kane. Kane, making his 72nd international goal, slid in from close range following a save by Andorran goalkeeper Iker Alvarez to give England the lead.
Despite the goal, England’s performance remained labored. Tuchel lamented the lack of urgency, quality, and energy, particularly in the final 20 minutes, stating, "I did not like the attitude with which we ended this game. It felt almost like, ‘We have to play it until the 93rd minute.’ It’s still a World Cup qualifier away from home. I didn’t like it at all." He praised Madueke as "maybe over the course of the match the most dangerous, the most active," highlighting his hunger and adherence to the game plan.
England created few clear chances after the goal. Eberechi Eze came off the bench and had a header tipped over by Alvarez, while late-game efforts by Madueke and Anthony Gordon failed to extend the advantage. At 90+3 minutes, England missed a golden opportunity to seal the win when Gordon's volley was saved and Madueke was unable to convert a tight-angle chance.
Harry Kane reflected on the match, acknowledging the team could have performed better: "It wasn’t our greatest performance, but we can learn from it. It’s very hot here, dry pitch, probably similar conditions to next year at the World Cup." He credited Madueke for being a constant threat and providing the assist, adding, "The June camp is never easy after a long season, but we got what we needed."
The victory extends England’s unbeaten run under Tuchel to three games in World Cup qualifying, but it also raises questions about the team’s offensive sharpness and consistency. With the next fixture being a friendly against Senegal at the City Ground in Nottingham on June 10, England will look to improve their attacking fluency and energy levels.
Defensively, England remained solid, with Tyrone Mings and Axel Tuanzebe effectively managing Andorra’s rare forays forward. Substitute Morgan Gibbs-White replaced Jude Bellingham in stoppage time, signaling Tuchel’s intent to manage player workloads amid a congested schedule.
In the broader context, England’s win could open up a nine-point gap at the top of Group K, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, to be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. However, goal difference and goals scored remain important tiebreakers, and England will aim to boost their offensive output in upcoming matches.
Overall, while the three points were secured, England’s performance highlighted areas for improvement. Tuchel and his squad will undoubtedly review the match footage to address the lapses in quality and energy, ensuring they are better prepared for the challenges ahead on the road to the World Cup.
