On Saturday night, England maintained their undefeated start to their World Cup qualifying campaign by defeating Andorra 2-0 at Villa Park.
As has been the case with England’s performances since Thomas Tuchel was named the new manager eleven months ago, the Three Lions easily won and took all three points, but the effort was remarkably lackluster.
Despite scoring four and five goals against Andorra in recent years, England found it difficult to defeat them in their most recent victory, which is surprising considering their depth of attacking prowess.
Although fans would’ve viewed this as a nothing match and a guaranteed three points, there are plenty of talking points coming out of the game, with most of them being negative, and GIVEMESPORT will take you through four things we learned from the match.
Marcus Rashford’s Struggles Highlight Tuchel’s Big Problem
The quietest player on the field was Marcus Rashford, but the entire England forward line found it difficult to penetrate Andorra’s defense. The game began fast for Barcelona’s new player, but he was soon figured out and had little success against Biel Borra, the right-back for Andorra. In addition to being easily figured out, Rashford wasted a fantastic opportunity in the 50th minute that he should have taken advantage of.
People would assume that Rashford’s performance was the result of a calm evening at work. However, Thomas Tuchel’s strategies and the system he has used since taking over as England manager may also be held responsible for his lack of success.
The attackers haven’t had much success since the German was brought in, despite the Three Lions’ amazing depth and quality in the final third. This suggests that his tactics may not be designed to maximize England’s wealth of attacking talent.
Since his appointment, Tuchel’s greatest challenge has been creativity, which he must address immediately if he hopes to ensure his team is competitive entering the World Cup the following year.
Elliot Anderson is Here to Stay
Elliot Anderson’s senior debut for the Three Lions was a major talking topic prior to England’s match against Andorra. The 22-year-old had a fantastic season for Nottingham Forest the previous season, and he has had a strong start to the Premier League campaign this year. Anderson elected to play for the Three Lions at the senior level despite alternately representing Scotland and England in the youth age divisions. If his debut is any indication, he will likely be a member of the team for a very long time.
Even though it was Anderson’s debut, his teammates already trusted him and saw his potential because he had the second-highest amount of touches of any England player. Although the Forest midfielder didn’t do much in the last third of the game, he frequently displayed his amazing passing range and controlled the midfield, spraying diagonals to the wingers and full-backs on the left and right.
Anderson’s skill set, which allows him to play in almost any midfield role, is another factor that will make him a useful and significant player for years to come. As previously stated, despite his exceptional skill on the ball, he can also exert pressure and pose serious obstacles.
Thomas Tuchel Still Has Lots to Prove as England Manager
When Tuchel was formally revealed as the new manager of England eleven months ago, there was a lot of excitement surrounding his appointment, but the excitement hasn’t translated into performances on the field, where it counts. Even though the German’s four wins in five games is respectable on paper—especially considering that his only defeat came in a friendly—it has been quite boring to watch.
After Gareth Southgate left, England supporters wanted a manager who would bring fresh, innovative ideas and a more dynamic style of play to the team. One could argue, though, that England is now as boring to watch and that, since Tuchel’s appointment, they may have even somewhat regressed. Although his record and accomplishments in club football are undeniable, international football is a very different game, and if he hopes to lead England to any semblance of World Cup success in 2026, he may need to alter his strategy.
It’s Harry Kane or Bust For the Three Lions in 2026
England’s recent top-end performances have been the subject of much discussion. However, if Harry Kane is hurt or starts to lose speed before the World Cup next year, things might get worse. The only two forwards Tuchel selected for his most recent squad were Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Kane.
On the surface, Kane and Watkins appear to be two excellent forward options. However, there aren’t many excellent striker options behind them, so if Kane slows down or suffers an injury that could prevent him from playing in the World Cup, England’s tournament could end before it has even begun. The Villa striker has had a poor start to the 2025–2026 Premier League campaign.
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