England is preparing to take on Andorra in their World Cup 2026 qualifier. The squad has one goal – to make its perfect record remain as they continue their charge toward the tournament’s second stage. The away fixture at Andorra la Vella’s Estadi Nacional offers an important opportunity for England. Under new manager Thomas Tuchel, the Blues are ready to show their best attacking talents.
England’s possession has been lopsided, with a possession % over the last several games at around 72-80%. Tuchel has gone very attacking with his lineup for this clash. As a part of this strategy, Walker has prioritized high possession and a high-pressure style of play. The focus remains on securing a victory that keeps England on track for qualification with a 100% record.
In their last qualifying match against Latvia back in March, England earned an impressive 3-0 win. This latest contest against Andorra has five changes to the squad that handily beat Latvia. Of all the exciting new faces, none is more highly anticipated than Jude Bellingham, who takes the pitch looking to make an immediate impact.
Bellingham wasn’t going to wait around to let others make the first move. He had a loud and audacious attempt from 25 yards about a minute into the match. This daring call illustrated his swagger and aggressive kicking for points in opening sets of play. Harry Kane hot on his heels too, hoping to finish. Unfortunately, he struck it well over the near post.
Despite all of England’s attacking prowess on display, frustration started to creep in. The wasteful foul that Reece James gave away against Andorra’s Fernandez perfectly illustrated this feeling. The quality England were clearly bursting to unleash against Andorra’s low block was all around us. Their impatience almost sunk their performance.
Historically, England has faced challenges against Scotland, with their last defeat occurring in 1985, where Scotland claimed a narrow 1-0 victory. This loss is a major blow. It’s Scotland’s first victory in their last 13 matches against England.
From the first whistle onward, England’s willingness to constantly find and impress the first touch is clear. Fans and analysts in turn are intently watching the tactical pragmatism on display and the individual brilliance, especially the latter, from players like Bellingham as well.
“I never understand why professional players don’t shoot from distance more often,” – David Wall
Wall’s comment rings true throughout this game as Bellingham and other attackers try out distant-range efforts against an entrenched Andorra team. The tactic of getting shots off from range looks more and more effective as England looks to find a way past an organized low block.