England beat Andorra to maintain perfect World Cup qualifying record

England made it four wins from four in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over a stubborn Andorra at Villa Park.

The breakthrough came just before half-time when Noni Madueke’s cross forced Christian Garcia into heading past his own goalkeeper in front of the Holte End.

Declan Rice doubled the lead midway through the second half, nodding in a precise Reece James delivery.

It was another controlled win for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who remain top of Group K, though the England boss had warned beforehand that breaking down Andorra would be “like chewing gum” — and his words proved accurate.

Harry Kane’s streak of scoring in five consecutive internationals came to an end, but the result was never in doubt, a sterner test awaits in Belgrade on Tuesday against Serbia.

Anderson Shines on Debut

Making his senior debut, Elliot Anderson impressed in a deeper midfield role, protecting the defence while recycling possession effectively.

With Rice pushed further forward, the Nottingham Forest man’s calmness and intelligence stood out in the first half, reinforcing Tuchel’s call for a natural No. 6 in the squad.

Tuchel was quick to praise Anderson:

“He showed he can become a very good player. That was the test, and I think he passed the test. There’s no reason why he should not play in Serbia if we decide to have the position for him. He is ready to go.”

Sky pundit Roy Keane also gave a measured endorsement:

“Anderson has done very well. It was an easy game as he had lots of possession, but he will be pleased. If he starts on Tuesday in Serbia, it will be interesting to see how he does, but he makes the game look easy.”

More Purpose in Attack

Rob Dorsett noted that England showed more “energy and identity” than in June’s narrow win against the same opposition, with Tuchel’s full-backs regularly overlapping to stretch Andorra’s defence. That approach yielded Rice’s second goal, with James’ delivery a constant threat from the right.

While the scoreline could have been more emphatic, England’s job was done with assurance — and the emergence of Anderson as a genuine midfield option was the biggest takeaway from the night.