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| Harry Kane Scores 450th Career Goal as England Edges Andorra in World Cup Qualifier. |
Harry Kane did it again! The England captain scored the only goal in a narrow 1-0 win over Andorra, helping the Three Lions stay perfect under new head coach Thomas Tuchel. While the performance wasn’t exactly convincing, the victory keeps England on top of their World Cup qualifying group.
Tuchel’s Third Win, But Still Plenty to Improve
This marks England’s third straight win since Tuchel took charge—but let’s be real, this one was far from a football masterclass. Facing a team like Andorra, fans were expecting a more dominant scoreline. Instead, England had to grind out the result.
First Half: All Pressure, No Payoff
England started strong and put immediate pressure on Andorra. Jude Bellingham and Noni Madueke both tested goalkeeper Iker Alvarez within the first 15 minutes, but their long-range efforts were denied.
The best chance in the first half came in the 19th minute. Madueke sent a dangerous cross into the box that reached Curtis Jones. He cut it back to Kane, but the striker couldn’t hit the target. England kept pushing, with Bellingham forcing another save before halftime, but the score stayed 0-0 at the break.
Kane Breaks the Deadlock Early in Second Half
It didn’t take long after the restart for England to finally find the net. Kane’s initial shot was saved, but the rebound fell perfectly for Madueke, who passed it back to Kane to slot it in from close range. That goal marked Kane’s 450th career goal across all competitions—an impressive milestone.
Madueke & Eze Shine Despite Low Scoreline
Madueke was arguably England’s standout player. He not only provided the assist for the goal, but also led the team in touches in the opposition box (11), chances created (4), and successful dribbles (3).
Eberechi Eze also brought energy off the bench. Just minutes after being subbed on in the 65th minute, he came close to scoring with a powerful header, but Alvarez made a great save to keep it out.
In the dying moments of the game, Madueke almost sealed a second goal for England but couldn’t convert a perfect cross from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Stats Recap: Tuchel Sets a New Record, Kane Matches Crouch
While the match won’t be remembered for its excitement, Tuchel made history. He’s now the first England manager to win his first three competitive matches without conceding a goal.
He’s also only the fifth manager in England’s history to win his first three matches, joining legends like Ron Greenwood, Glenn Hoddle, Sven-Göran Eriksson, and Fabio Capello.
As for Kane, he became just the second player—after Peter Crouch under Steve McClaren in 2006—to score in each of a manager’s first three games in charge of England.
A Win Is a Win, but Style Still Lacking
Sure, England got the job done. But the performance left a lot to be desired. There’s still work to be done, especially when it comes to finishing chances. Still, a win is a win, and Tuchel’s solid start continues.
If you're an England fan, hang in there! There’s potential in this squad—and with players like Kane, Bellingham, and Madueke, better performances should be on the way.
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