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Andorra vs England live: Result and reaction as Harry Kane goal seals drab England win in World Cup qualifier
England 1-0 Andorra: Thomas Tuchel’s men played out an uninspiring game with Harry Kane’s second-half goal the difference
England returned to World Cup qualifying action with a drab 1-0 win over minnows Andorra, the world’s 173rd-ranked team, in a serviceable but uninspiring performance from Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Noni Madueke was a bright spark for the visitors and was rewarded with an assist for Harry Kane’s 50th-minute opener, latching onto a deflection and laying off a cross into space for the club captain.
It was a 72nd international goal for Kane, but while England had plenty of possession and touches in the opposition box, they were low on quality, with Gordon missing a chance to tap in at close range from a Madueke cut-back in the closing stages of extra time.
Several players will be off to the Club World Cup after this qualifier and the friendly against Senegal that follows, underlining the hectic schedule with which top footballers have to contend, and some exhaustion was evident after a lengthy club season.
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'I did not like the attitude' - Tuchel
Asked about his message for the players, Tuchel says, “It’s what I’ve said to you just now. I told them I was most worried in the last 20 minutes because I did not like the attitude with which we ended this game. It felt almost like [he shrugs dismissively], ‘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. The players know all this because I said it in the dressing-room.
“It’s also necessary to have a look in detail, watch the match again, and we will let them know tomorrow what we want from them.”
Madueke 'one of the few' to put in the effort - Tuchel
Tuchel warms to his theme. Asked about Noni Madueke advancing his cause for inclusion in the squad, he says, “He was maybe over the course of the match the most dangerous, the most active. I could feel his hunger and desire to [follow the plan]. Yeah, he was one of the few.
“We had a good first 25 minutes, when we played to our plan, but we couldn’t keep it up. The energy, rhythm, the determination was not there any more; also there was a lack of quality in the details.”
'Lack of urgency, quality and energy' - Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel offers a fairly damning verdict to ITV. “We're not happy with the performance, of course. We started quite well in the first 20 or 25 minutes, but that was the only time it felt like it was only a matter of time.
“We created a lot of chances, half-chances and set pieces, and it felt like we were going to score and keep on going.
“But we completely lost our momentum and couldn't get it back from the whole of the first half.
“We got a little bit in the first 15 minutes of the second, but then ended up in a period which was by far not good enough.
“There was a lack of urgency, quality and energy.”
'Disappointed' not to score more for fans - Kane
“We got three points, we've got a friendly on Tuesday against an opposition we might face next year [Senegal].
“The fans were great even though they were spread out in the stadium, and obviously we're disappointed we couldn't score a few more for them,” Kane adds.
'June camp is never easy' - Kane
Asked about Noni Madueke, he says: “He was a constant threat today and he got the assist as well. We need more of that – we’ve got amazing players and you need one v one quality in these games.
“The June camp is never easy after a long season, but we got what we needed.“
'I don't think people will remember this one' - Harry Kane
Harry Kane speaks to ITV: “It’s one of those. We can play better, I don’t think many people will remember this one. 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.
“We had good spells but we couldn’t consistently have attack after attack. We take the three points and move on.
“We probably weren’t good enough on the ball – we kept giving it away, which gave them confidence and energy. At 1-0 with five, ten minutes to go you’ve got to be careful. It is what it is.”
FULL-TIME: Andorra 0-1 England
90+3 mins: That’s the last action of the game. A win for England, but it doesn’t much feel like one. Deeply drab football.
CHANCE! Andorra 0-1 England
90+3 mins: Andorra toy with the idea of an equaliser but England break... Gibbs-White crosses into the centre of the box. Gordon pokes it towards Madueke, who bundles a cross in from the back post, but Alvarez clears before Gordon can scramble it in! Sums up the afternoon, really.
Andorra 0-1 England
90 mins: Madueke goes for a one-two with Kane but Olivera outmuscles him off the ball.
Andorra have the ball, Lopez crosses from the back line into space, but England clear. Kane is surrounded on the edge of the box and draws a foul.
Bellingham is replaced by Gibbs-White.
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