England secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against a resolute Andorra side in Barcelona, continuing their unbeaten start to the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.
Captain Harry Kane’s second-half goal proved the difference, but the Three Lions faced unexpected challenges in breaking down the world’s 173rd-ranked team, leaving fans frustrated at times during the Group K clash.
Manager Thomas Tuchel had cautioned supporters to temper expectations, predicting a tough task against Andorra’s well-drilled defense. His prophecy rang true as England, despite dominating possession, struggled to create clear chances in the first half, drawing jeers from the traveling fans at halftime.
Tuchel’s bold tactical choices, including deploying Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones as a makeshift right-back and Reece James at left-back, aimed to maximize attacking options but initially failed to unlock Andorra’s stubborn backline.
The breakthrough arrived five minutes after the restart. Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, latched onto a low cross from Noni Madueke after his initial shot was parried by Andorra’s goalkeeper Iker Alvarez. The tap-in, assisted by a precise ball from Jones to Madueke, spared England’s blushes but did little to mask a labored performance that fell short of the convincing win many anticipated.
Despite fielding an attack-minded lineup, England’s creativity was stifled. Jude Bellingham and Madueke resorted to speculative long-range efforts, both comfortably saved by Alvarez, while substitute Eberechi Eze nearly doubled the lead with a header that the Andorra keeper tipped over. Andorra, though limited in attack, defended with grit, frustrating England’s attempts to add to their tally.
The narrow victory keeps England atop Group K with nine points from three wins. They now turn their attention to a friendly against Senegal on Tuesday at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, where Tuchel will hope for a more polished display.