England 2-0 Andorra: Thomas Tuchel’s side have ‘arguably regressed’

Authors: Phil McNulty

Publisher:

BBC

Published: 9/6/2025

Language:English

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Tom Banks

Good morning 跑了松鼠好嘛, I'm Tom Banks, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Wednesday, September 10th. I'm with Mask, and we're here to discuss a win that feels more like a loss: England's 2-0 victory over Andorra.

Mask

A victory in name only, Tom. The real headline is that Thomas Tuchel’s much-hyped new era has, dare I say, arguably regressed. It’s a classic case of winning the battle but looking like you're losing the war.

Tom Banks

Let's get started. The facts are these: England beat Andorra 2-0 at Villa Park. An own goal gifted them the lead, and Declan Rice added a second. On paper, it's a solid World Cup qualifying win. But the performance was described as lethargic.

Mask

Lethargic is putting it kindly. With 83% possession, they should be dismantling a team ranked 174th in the world. Instead, they looked lost. It reminds me of what Marcus Rashford said about Manchester United lacking an identity. That's what I see here: a team in no man's land.

Tom Banks

That's a strong comparison. But there were some bright spots, weren't there? Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson made his debut and looked quite sharp. It's not all doom and gloom when new talent gets a chance to shine on the international stage.

Mask

A single bright spot in a sea of mediocrity doesn't excite me. You can't build a championship team on one debut. Rashford was right: 'Show me a successful team that just adapts.' England looks like it's just adapting, not executing a clear, dominant vision.

Tom Banks

Well, to understand the current situation, we have to look at how we got here. This all started in July when Gareth Southgate stepped down after that heartbreaking loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. The FA wanted a proven winner, a big name to take them to the next level.

Mask

And they landed on Thomas Tuchel, the first German to ever manage England. He's a disruptive force, no doubt. He arrived promising football that 'reflects the Premier League'—physicality, intensity, directness. But so far, the talk has been much bigger than the on-field product. It’s a massive project.

Tom Banks

He officially started on January 1st, bringing in his own trusted backroom team from his days at Chelsea and Bayern Munich. The FA's chief executive even called him 'one of the best coaches in the world.' They put a lot of faith, and reportedly a big World Cup bonus, into his hands.

Mask

Faith and money don't win trophies; strategy and execution do. He's the third foreign manager after Eriksson and Capello. The expectation isn't just to qualify; it's to dominate. He has the players, he has the pedigree, but now he has to mold them into a relentless winning machine.

Tom Banks

It's a huge undertaking, especially with the weight of a nation's expectations. He's familiar with the players from his time at Chelsea, which should be an advantage, but blending all that talent into a cohesive, attacking unit is the real test of his proclaimed world-class status.

Tom Banks

And that's where the conflict lies. Despite the win, fans were leaving Villa Park early. The atmosphere was flat because the performance was flat. There's a growing debate: is this just a slow start under a new system, or is the team genuinely regressing?

Mask

It's regression. Period. You can't just brush this off as 'new manager blues.' The statistics against Andorra were worse than the previous match. Fewer shots, fewer big chances, lower expected goals. You have to question what's happening. Is this Gareth Southgate's caution or Tuchel's genius? Right now, it looks like neither.

Tom Banks

That seems a bit harsh. Pundits like Roy Keane have pointed out the team is falling back into old habits, with too many sideways and backwards passes. But building a new identity, a new attacking philosophy, takes more than a few qualifying matches against a team that parks the bus.

Mask

Progress isn't a straight line, but it shouldn't be a circle. Playing with no ideas or inspiration against a defensive wall is a failure of strategy. A great leader imposes his will on the game. We're not seeing that. We're seeing a team that looks hesitant and confused.

Tom Banks

The immediate impact is that the pressure is already mounting on Tuchel. He was brought in because he's a Champions League winner with a proven record in tournament football. That pedigree creates incredibly high expectations for the World Cup 2026 qualification campaign. Every misstep is magnified.

Mask

Exactly. And let's not forget his reputation. For everyone who calls him a genius, there's someone else who says he's a 'nightmare to work with.' That demanding, high-intensity style can either forge diamonds or shatter the team's morale if results don't come quickly. It's a high-risk, high-reward appointment.

Tom Banks

So, while qualification for the World Cup isn't in immediate danger, the team's confidence and public perception are. These uninspired performances erode the belief that was built during the Southgate era, making the journey to 2026 feel much more uncertain than it should.

Tom Banks

Looking ahead, Tuchel insists they are 'on the right path.' But the real test is just around the corner. On Tuesday, they face Serbia in what will be the toughest qualifier of his reign so far. This isn't Andorra; this is a serious challenge.

Mask

This is the acid test. Forget experimental lineups. This is where we see if his vision has substance. He needs to unleash the team's potential and show that there is a defined, aggressive plan. Anything less than a convincing performance will only amplify the criticism.

Tom Banks

That's the end of today's discussion. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod. See you tomorrow.

Mask

Indeed. Let's see if Tuchel's England decides to finally show up for the fight. The clock is ticking.

## England's World Cup Qualifier Against Andorra: A Turgid Performance Under Tuchel Raises Concerns **News Title:** England 2-0 Andorra: Thomas Tuchel’s side have ‘arguably regressed’ **Report Provider:** BBC Sport **Author:** Phil McNulty **Date:** Published September 6, 2025 (referring to a match played around this time) ### Main Findings and Conclusions Despite securing a 2-0 victory against Andorra (ranked 174th in the world) in a World Cup qualifier, England's performance under manager Thomas Tuchel is described as **"turgid" and "underwhelming."** The article argues that England has **arguably regressed** rather than improved since Tuchel replaced Sir Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024. The lack of atmosphere at Villa Park, with thousands of fans leaving before the end, is cited as a "brutal measure" of the dire quality of the match. While England is in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the "brave new era" promised under Tuchel has yet to materialize, with the team lacking identity, ideas, inspiration, and momentum. ### Key Statistics and Metrics * **Scoreline:** England 2-0 Andorra * **Andorra's World Ranking:** 174th * **Clean Sheets:** England has kept a clean sheet in all four World Cup qualifiers under Tuchel, more than any other side in this year's qualifiers. * **Possession:** England recorded **83% possession** against Andorra. * **Goals:** * The first goal was an **own goal** by Andorra defender Christian Garcia in the 25th minute from a Noni Madueke cross. * The second goal was a header by Declan Rice from a Reece James delivery in the 67th minute. * **Comparison to Previous Match vs. Andorra (June):** * **Shots:** Down from 20 to 11. * **Big Chances:** Down from six to four. * **Touches in Opposition Box:** Down from 52 to 41. * **Expected Goals (xG):** Down from 4 to 2.21. * **Percentage of Forward Passes:** Identical at 23%. ### Important Recommendations and Concerns * **Lack of Ideas and Inspiration:** A consistent concern under Tuchel's tenure is England's "lack of ideas, inspiration, end product and momentum in their play." * **Need for Urgency and Aggression:** Tuchel demanded "greater urgency and aggression," but these qualities were largely absent against an unambitious Andorra side. * **Player Performance:** * **Marcus Rashford:** Restored on the left flank, he "faded after the odd early flourish" and looked "short on confidence." * **Harry Kane:** Struggled. * **Eberechi Eze:** Was "kept on the margins" and "struggled a bit with his decision-making." * **Noni Madueke:** His "last pass was not clinical enough." * **Upcoming Challenge:** Serbia in Belgrade is identified as the "sternest challenge of Tuchel's reign" and the "real acid test" for the new England, who "must improve." ### Significant Trends or Changes * **Stagnation Under Tuchel:** The article suggests a regression in England's performance and identity under Tuchel, despite securing wins. * **Diminishing Returns Against Weaker Opposition:** The days of England scoring "eight or nine goals against opponents in competitive international football are largely in the past." * **Debut of Elliot Anderson:** Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson made his debut and was noted as one of the "brighter performers" in a "mediocre England effort." ### Notable Risks or Concerns * **Catastrophic Collapse for World Cup Qualification:** While unlikely, the article notes that a "collapse of catastrophic proportions" would be needed for England not to reach the 2026 World Cup. * **Failure to Impress:** The performance against Andorra failed to impress the fans, leading to early departures and a lack of atmosphere. * **Inability to Break Down Defensive Sides:** England struggled to break down Andorra's "yellow wall of defensive defiance," relying on an own goal to open the scoring. ### Material Financial Data No material financial data is present in this news report.

Read original at BBC →

'They won - but have turgid England regressed under Tuchel?'Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, England have kept a clean sheet all four games, more than any other side in this year's World Cup qualifiersEngland's players went through the formalities of a lap around Villa Park at the end of their victory over Andorra, but the sight of their applause being aimed towards thousands of empty seats was the brutal measure of this dire World Cup qualifier.

It is traditionally the role of the visiting team to quieten the home crowd in encounters such as this. In a reversal of the time-honoured strategy, it was the latest underwhelming display delivered by Thomas Tuchel's side that sucked the life out of the atmosphere.England, as they have now done on four occasions under Tuchel in World Cup qualifying, won to cement a powerful position at the head of Group K.

A 2-0 victory against the side ranked 174th in the world.It would take a collapse of catastrophic proportions for England not to reach next summer's World Cup, but the brave new era that was meant to be ushered in when Tuchel replaced Sir Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024 has yet to arrive.Indeed, Tuchel has yet to stamp any identity on England, who have arguably regressed rather than improved since Southgate's departure following the defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

It was graphically illustrated by thousands of England fans heading for the exits well before the end, Villa Park's famous Holte End a sea of unoccupied light blue seats.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, England fans started to leave Villa Park before the final whistle It took an own goal to break the deadlock after 25 minutes, Andorra defender Christian Garcia heading Noni Madueke's cross beyond goalkeeper Iker Alvarez.

Declan Rice headed the second from Reece James' excellent delivery after 67 minutes.The usual caveats apply on these occasions. And there some is merit in them.England did what they had to do, no matter how turgid and uneventful this was. Another step towards the 2026 World Cup.Andorra mounted a rearguard action from the first whistle, assembling a yellow wall of defensive defiance, England recording 83% possession while the visitors barely got out of their own half, leaving keeper Jordan Pickford to mind his own business.

Tuchel will rightly point to the statistic that England have yet to concede a goal in World Cup qualifiers - but they have barely been tested.And the days of racking up eight or nine goals against opponents in competitive international football are largely in the past.Andorra, sandwiched between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Chad in the world standings, will regard a two-goal margin of defeat as close to a moral victory.

What must be a worry for Tuchel, and it is a concern that has been a consistent thread through his time in charge, is England's lack of ideas, inspiration, end product and momentum in their play.'Anderson debut delighted England's head coach'Tuchel gave a debut to Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, who was one of the brighter performers in this mediocre England effort.

He also restored Marcus Rashford on the left flank, but the forward, on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, faded after the odd early flourish while captain Harry Kane struggled and Eberechi Eze was kept on the margins.Tuchel insists Rashford is a left-winger but he looked short on confidence and faded as the game went on.

Tuchel may need to seek alternatives in Belgrade on Tuesday.Serbia, in those more hostile surroundings, will present the sternest challenge of Tuchel's reign. This will be the real acid test of Tuchel's new England and they must improve.Tuchel demanded greater urgency and aggression but there was little of that on show here.

England lacked spark, irrespective of the fact it was a game played against an Andorra side devoid of any ambition other than to avoid being embarrassed.Tuchel's side edged a 1-0 victory against Andorra in June but, despite Tuchel himself suggesting this was an improved showing, the stats do not necessarily back that up.

Shots were down from 20 to 11 while big chances were down from six to four. Touches in the opposition box were down from 52 to 41, while expected goals were down from four to 2.21.England's early strategy was clearly to get the ball forward more quickly, but the overall percentage of forward passes was identical to June's game against Andorra at 23%.

Tuchel insists England are moving in the right direction. If they are, they are doing it at a snail's pace.Anderson's debut delighted England's head coach, but there are areas where he wants to see improvement."I think we missed some little moments to accelerate the game," Tuchel said. "Maybe Eberechi Eze did not have his best day in the number 10 position.

He trained so well but he struggled a bit with his decision-making."The last pass from Noni Madueke was not clinical enough. Marcus Rashford had some good moments but couldn't finish them with an assist. It's stuff that can happen against a narrow 5-4-1."This was the first England game at Aston Villa's ground for 20 years.

None of those inside Villa Park will be rushing to say it was worth the wait.