England Cruise Past Andorra with Rice Header in World Cup Qualifier
England’s World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign rolled on at Villa Park with a comfortable but not spectacular 2-0 win over Andorra. It was a match that rarely looked in doubt, though it didn’t always sparkle either.
The opening breakthrough came midway through the first half, and it arrived in slightly fortunate fashion. A driving run from Noni Madueke created real pressure, and the cross he fired into the box forced Andorran defender Christian García into a mistake. The ball deflected off him and ended up in his own net, handing England a lead without them having to find the back of the net themselves. It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but it settled any nerves in front of a crowd that had been waiting for England’s first international at Villa Park since 2001.
From there, England controlled the game, though the tempo often dropped into something a little flat. Elliot Anderson, making his debut, showed energy and promise, while Madueke kept the Andorran defenders busy with his direct running. But despite the possession and dominance, chances weren’t always taken cleanly. The Andorran goalkeeper, Iker Álvarez, produced a couple of strong saves, denying Anderson a dream goal on his first appearance and frustrating Eberechi Eze as well.
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The second goal finally arrived in the 67th minute and it carried far more quality than the first. Reece James, who had been delivering dangerous balls all evening, swung in a superb cross from the right flank. Declan Rice met it with authority, sending a downward header into the net to double England’s advantage. It was his sixth international goal, and it gave England the cushion they needed.
After that, the game meandered towards its conclusion. England made a series of substitutions, giving minutes to the likes of Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, and Tino Livramento. The crowd enjoyed seeing local player Rogers introduced, and he came close to creating another chance late on.
As for Andorra, their game plan was clear from the outset: sit deep, defend in numbers, and avoid embarrassment. To their credit, it worked in part. They didn’t manage a shot to trouble Jordan Pickford, who was barely called into action, but they also kept the scoreline respectable, heading home having limited the damage to just two goals.
For England, it was a professional, if uninspiring, night. The win kept their 100% record intact in Group K, four games played, four victories, and not a single goal conceded. The performance won’t go down as one of their most memorable, but it was job done, and that’s what matters most in qualifying campaigns.
Attention now shifts to Belgrade, where Serbia awaits on Tuesday. That match promises to provide a much sterner test than Andorra did here. England will need to sharpen their attacking play and raise the intensity, but for now, they leave Villa Park with another three points safely in the bag.
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