An underwhelming England side laboured to a narrow 1–0 victory over lowly Andorra, continuing their perfect start under new manager Thomas Tuchel.

The Three Lions made it three wins from three under Gareth Southgate’s successor, building on their March victories at Wembley against Albania and Latvia. In the Barcelona sunshine, it was Harry Kane who found the net with his 450th career goal, helping England retain control of Group K on the road to next summer’s World Cup.

Nevertheless, managing only a single goal against a side ranked 173rd in the world by FIFA is bound to prompt scrutiny. A team with aspirations of lifting the trophy in the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026 will be expected to perform far more convincingly. While the demands of a gruelling season and the stifling Spanish heat and humidity may offer some excuse, the overall display was well below expectations.

England’s first-half performance was lethargic and largely forgettable, despite occasional flashes of promise from Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, and particularly Noni Madueke – who stood out as the visitors’ most impressive performer.

As anticipated, England dominated possession from the outset, but their passing lacked urgency and penetration. Andorra’s disciplined low block frustrated the visitors, with goalkeeper Iker Álvarez rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes.

The deadlock was finally broken just five minutes into the second half, when Kane stretched to convert Madueke’s low cross at the back post, firing it high into the roof of the net.

There was a sense that the floodgates might open at that point, with Andorra expected to tire. However, England remained disjointed and uninspired going forward. Substitute Eberechi Eze had the best opportunity to double the lead, but his close-range header from Bellingham’s deft delivery was superbly tipped over by Álvarez.

England had to survive a few nervy moments in the second half, with Ricard Fernández and Guillaume Lopez threatening to snatch an unlikely equaliser. Ezri Konsa was called upon to make a crucial block to deny Lopez inside the box.

Tuchel turned to his bench in search of a more convincing finish, introducing the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, and Anthony Gordon. Yet, even in the dying moments, England’s profligacy was on show – Gordon and Madueke somehow failed to combine for a tap-in in the final seconds, a mishap that perfectly encapsulated a frustrating evening.