England cruised past Andorra to stay top of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group with a 2-0 win at Villa Park, Birmingham.
Christian Garcia headed England ahead with his 25th-minute own-goal from Noni Madueke’s cross, before Declan Rice wrapped up victory with a 67th-minute header from Reece James’ cross.
England remain top of Qualifying Group K with a five-point gap to second-placed Serbia after Dusan Vlahovic netted the Serbian’s winner in a 1-0 victory away at Latvia.
Having limped past Andorra away on neutral territory in Spain in June then lost a friendly to Senegal just days later, fans got their wish for an improved energetic display early on with quicker pace in their passes.
Referee, Mohammed Al Emara however snubbed penalty appeals in the third minute after Marcus Rashford was tripped on the by-line by Biel Borra.
Further frustration came as Eberechi Eze fired a 15th-minute shot into Iker Alvarez’s arms, before Harry Kane flicked a 23rd-minute cross wide of the left corner.
England’s breakthrough opener eventually came from neat play up the right flank which fell for Madueke to cross into the box, but Garcia headed the delivery across into the top left corner of his own net.
Andorra however continued to prove stubborn with little quality chances for the hosts before half time, aside from a header over the bar by Kane from Eze’s cross.
Alvarez single-handedly kept Andorra in the game with a 49th minute block of Eze’s strike before Rashford curled wide on the rebound.
The Andorran goalkeeper then denied debutant, Elliott Anderson barely a minute later but was eventually beaten by a 67th-minute header from Rice, after the midfielder was unmarked to thump in James’ cross.
England eventually cruised to their fourth victory in the group to preserve their unbeaten record as Andorra remain winless without a single goal for their efforts.
What’s Next?
England visit Serbia at Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, on Tuesday 9 September in their next 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at 8:45pm CEST (7:45pm BST).
Andorra meanwhile visit Estonia in a friendly that same evening.
Teams
England: Jordan Pickford, Reece James (Livramento 68′), Marc Guehi (Konsa 76′), Dan Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Elliott Anderson, Declan Rice (Rogers 68′), Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze (Gibbs-White 78′), Marcus Rashford (Gordon 68′), Harry Kane
Substitutes: Jarrod Bowen, Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Gordon, Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Rubens Loftus-Cheek, Morgan Rogers, Djed Spence, James Trafford, Ollie Watkins
Andorra: Iker Alvarez, Biel Borra, Max Llovera, Christian Garcia, Ian Olivera, Moises San Nicolas, Aron Rodrigo (Dacu 81′), Pau Babot (Rebes 91′), Marc Vales (Guillen 59′), Joan Cervos (Rubio 91′), Cucu (Lopez 59′)
Substitutes: Marc Garcia, Joel Guillen, Guillaume Lopez, Alex Martinez, Xisco Pires, Marc Rebes, Chus Rubio, Alex Ruiz, Eric Vales, Dacu, Joao Teixeira, Eric Izquierdo
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