England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his frustration with the team's attitude following their underwhelming 1-0 victory over Andorra in a World Cup qualifier held in Barcelona. Tuchel felt the team lacked the necessary "seriousness and urgency," particularly towards the end of the match, and that they "played with fire" against the minnows.
The match, played at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona due to Andorra's home ground not meeting the required standards, saw England struggle to break down a stubborn Andorran defense. Despite dominating possession with 83%, England failed to convert their dominance into a comfortable lead. The only goal of the game came in the 50th minute when Harry Kane converted a cross from Noni Madueke, who was one of the few bright sparks in England's performance.
Tuchel was visibly unhappy with the team's performance, especially in the final stages of the game. He stated that he "didn't like the attitude with which we ended this game," adding that it felt like the players were simply going through the motions until the final whistle. He emphasized that a World Cup qualifier, even against a lower-ranked team, demands a higher level of urgency and focus. "It did not match the occasion at all, it is still a qualifier away from home, I didn't like it at all," Tuchel said.
The England boss also pointed out a lack of quality and energy in the team's performance. He noted that after a good start in the first 20-25 minutes, the team lost momentum and struggled to regain it. Tuchel acknowledged that the team needs to improve significantly for their upcoming friendly against Senegal in Nottingham. "We can just admit it that it's not what we expect from us and we need to do better," he said. "We need a bit of time to look at it in detail and address it clearly and directly to be better on Tuesday."
The laboured victory and Tuchel's criticism have sparked concerns about England's form and attitude as they continue their World Cup qualification campaign. While a win is a win, the manner of the victory against Andorra has raised questions about the team's complacency and their ability to maintain focus and intensity throughout a match. Tuchel's frank assessment of the team's performance suggests that he will be demanding a much-improved display in their upcoming games. It remains to be seen how the players will respond to his criticism and whether they can demonstrate the required urgency and quality to secure their place in the World Cup.