Tuchel Fumes as England Scrape Past Andorra in Underwhelming Display
You could feel it in the air—England were expected to roll over Andorra with ease. Instead, what unfolded at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona left fans frustrated and their manager, Thomas Tuchel, visibly furious. Despite a 1-0 victory courtesy of Harry Kane’s second-half goal, the win was far from convincing. And Tuchel didn’t hold back in his assessment.
Speaking candidly after the match, Tuchel tore into the team’s lacklustre showing, especially in the final half-hour. “I didn’t like the attitude,” he admitted bluntly. “We lacked seriousness. I didn’t like the body language—it wasn’t what the occasion needed.”
It was supposed to be a routine World Cup qualifier. England came into the game sitting comfortably at the top of the group, unbeaten and with a perfect defensive record. But instead of showing dominance, they allowed Andorra—ranked far below them—to frustrate and stall the game. Tuchel’s men were sloppy, disjointed, and lost all sense of urgency after taking the lead. And he wasn’t buying fatigue or end-of-season weariness as an excuse.
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“We can and have to do better for 90 minutes,” Tuchel said. “This was a dangerous game. I felt like we were playing with fire. One goal is never enough in football, and we made it easy for them to believe they could get something from it.”
Harry Kane’s goal in the 50th minute, set up by the lively Noni Madueke, was a brief spark. Madueke’s runs added needed energy, but he was one of the few players who seemed fully switched on. Tuchel praised him but stressed the need for others to show similar commitment. “We need more one-v-one quality. Noni gave us that, but overall we didn’t deliver.”
What made Tuchel’s frustration more intense was that the team had trained with energy and intensity in the days leading up to the game. Yet, when it mattered, it didn’t translate onto the pitch. “It started well, but then it became freestyle football,” Tuchel explained. “Everybody wanted the ball to feet, no runs, no tempo. That’s how you lose control.”
Tuchel also acknowledged the crowd’s boos at half-time and full-time, saying the fans had every right to voice their disappointment. “They created a great atmosphere. I don’t blame them for being unhappy.”
While England walked away with three points and a continued lead in their group, the performance raised more questions than answers. Was it just an off night, or is there a deeper issue with the squad’s mentality in ‘easier’ fixtures?
Tuchel’s post-match comments sent a clear message: standards must be higher. Against top-tier teams, this kind of complacency could be disastrous. England got away with it against Andorra—but only just.
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