England’s star-studded squad narrowly escaped embarrassment on the road in their third match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers, scraping a 1-0 win over lowly Andorra in a game that left fans furious and manager Thomas Tuchel visibly frustrated.
Despite dominating possession and firing 20 shots (10 on target), the Three Lions could only find the net once, through captain Harry Kane in the 50th minute, against a team ranked 173rd in the world.
A Shocking Struggle Against Underdogs
Coming into the match, England sat comfortably at 4th in the FIFA rankings, while Andorra were considered one of the minnows of international football. The difference in team value was staggering: England’s starting lineup was worth over €607 million, compared to Andorra’s €1.62 million, a 375-fold gap.
And yet, the scoreline barely reflected that gulf. The 1-0 result marks the narrowest margin in seven meetings between the two nations. In their last three encounters, England had scored 6-0, 4-0, and 5-0 victories, respectively.
Still, the Three Lions maintained their perfect defensive record against Andorra, having never conceded a goal in their head-to-head history.
Tuchel Fumes Over Complacency: “We’re Playing With Fire”
England head coach Thomas Tuchel didn’t hold back in his post-match interview.
“I didn’t like the way we ended the game,” Tuchel said bluntly. “We started well in the first 25 minutes, but completely lost our focus and energy in the final half hour. We lacked urgency and commitment; that’s not how a team should perform in World Cup qualifiers.”
Tuchel warned that if this level of effort continues, England’s ambitions in the 2026 World Cup could be in serious jeopardy.
“We’re playing with fire. It felt like a cup match where the favourites didn’t take it seriously enough. If we don’t fix this attitude, we won’t go far in the tournament,” he added.
Tuchel also responded to the loud boos from fans and chants aimed at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which erupted from the traveling supporters.
“Fans have every right to be disappointed. We didn’t deliver. As for the offensive chants, I didn’t personally hear them, but if they happened, they’re unacceptable,” he said.
Kane Stands Up for Teammates: “We’re All Tired”
While Tuchel pointed fingers at the team’s attitude, he also acknowledged the physical toll on players.
“Some of the guys are fatigued after a long season. After Tuesday’s friendly against Senegal in Nottingham, nine of them will fly straight to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup. It’s a heavy load.”
Captain Harry Kane echoed the sentiment, defending the squad amid criticism.
“Playing for the national team in June is never easy,” Kane said. “The players have just come off an exhausting season. Of course, we’re disappointed we didn’t score more, but we’ll improve.”
Group Standings: England Still in Control
Despite the uninspiring performance, England remain top of Group K with three wins from three matches. They’ve previously defeated Albania and Latvia and now sit on 9 points, 5 clear of second-place Albania. Latvia are third with 3 points, Serbia sits fourth with 1 point and two games in hand, while Andorra remain bottom with zero points.
England’s next match, a friendly against Senegal, offers Tuchel a final opportunity to experiment and rebuild momentum before competitive fixtures resume.
