Online Reporter
ENGLAND’S players went through the formalities of a lap around Villa Park at the end of their victory over Andorra on Saturday night, but the sight of their applause being aimed towards thousands of empty seats was the brutal measure of this dire World Cup football 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.
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. — BBC Sport/Zimpapers Sports Hub.
