Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 6, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleEngland defeated Andorra 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier, with goals from an own goal and Declan Rice. England leads Group K, despite criticism of their play style.
By Andrew Cawthorne
BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) -England needed an own goal to open the scoring in a 2-0 win over Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday before Declan Rice made the result more respectable as they failed to sparkle against the tiny principality ranked 170 places below them.
A fourth win in four for Thomas Tuchel's team in their campaign for next year's finals put them in command of Group K on 12 points ahead of Tuesday's game in Serbia.
But their often slow build-up play did not excite the near-40,000 Villa Park crowd and may fuel grumbles that they have become a duller team under German Thomas Tuchel despite his perfect record in the qualifiers.
England's opener came in the 25th minute when a fine cross from Noni Madueke skimmed off Andorra defender Christian Garcia's head into the net with Harry Kane lurking behind him.
Rice added the second in the 67th minute when he met another superb cross, from Reece James this time, to steer a downward header past goalkeeper Iker Alvarez to wrap up the victory against 174th-ranked Andorra.
(Reporting Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Ken Ferris)
England won the match 2-0 against Andorra in the World Cup qualifier.
England's opening goal came from an own goal by Andorra defender Christian Garcia in the 25th minute.
Declan Rice scored the second goal for England in the 67th minute with a downward header from a cross by Reece James.
The match attracted nearly 40,000 fans at Villa Park.
With this victory, England is in command of Group K with 12 points after four wins.
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