Andorra v England (2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying)

Andorra v England

Andorra England 0 5
BBC Report Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA)
Event	UEFA Group I
Date	Saturday 9 October 2021
Venue	Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella
Player of the Match	Phil Foden
Referee	Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
Attendance	2,285
← Andorra - Hungary England - Poland Andorra - San Marino England - Hungary →

Andorra v England was a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying game. It took place on Saturday 9 October 2021 at Estadi Nacional in Andorra la Vella.

England took another step towards confirming qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a predictably easy victory in Andorra.

Gareth Southgate's side dropped their first points in qualifying when they drew in Poland in their last game but there was no threat of anything other than a very comfortable win against the country ranked 156th in the Fifa rankings.

England rested big guns such as captain Harry Kane but, with Phil Foden outstanding, they had far too much for Andorra and quickly established their superiority.

Foden played in Jadon Sancho to set up Ben Chilwell for his first England goal after 17 minutes, then the Manchester City youngster delivered the perfect pass for Arsenal's Bukayo Saka to add a second five minutes before the break.

Tammy Abraham was desperate to get on the scoresheet after his good form with Roma won him a recall, then a start with Kane on the bench and Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured, and he was on the mark when he stole on to Sancho's cross to score on the hour.

James Ward-Prowse added England's fourth late on, scoring from a rebound after his penalty was saved by Andorra keeper Josep Gomes, before Jack Grealish produced a solo effort for his first international goal from England keeper Sam Johnstone's superb throw.

It was also a significant game for Ukrainian referee Kateryna Mozul, who became the first woman to officiate a senior England men's game, and exercised excellent control throughout in an occasionally spiky encounter.

The opposition may have been Andorra - nestling between New Caledonia and the Dominican Republic in those Fifa rankings - but there was no disguising the sheer quality of Foden.

The 21-year-old was magnificent in Manchester City's 2-2 draw at Liverpool and, playing in a slightly withdrawn role, was the game's outstanding performer in Andorra.

In the first half, in particular, Foden was in majestic form as he effortlessly picked out team-mates with passes of the highest quality, contributing to England's first two goals.

It was a good night for the returning Abraham, who has been rejuvenated since joining Jose Mourinho in Rome. He had a frustrating time initially as he could not quite get on the end of things but he showed persistence, awareness and the poacher's instinct for his goal.

Sancho was another who made his mark, although he picked up a silly booking for kicking the ball away. The forward - who has made a low-key start following his £73m move to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund - was positive, always willing to take defenders on and helped set up England's first and third goals.

The added bonus came when Grealish, who has been asked to deliver England goals by Southgate, did just that when he latched on to Johnstone's delivery and ran at the Andorra defence before tucking a low shot past Gomes.

England's qualification for Qatar is a formality, as was this win that stretched their unbeaten record in World Cup qualifiers to 28 games, but this was a job very professionally done against an Andorra side that offered little other than game defence.

Southgate's side are next in action on Tuesday, when they host Hungary and look to edge closer to confirming a spot at the World Cup.

Match

Details

9 October 2021 20:45	Andorra	0–5	England	Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella Attendance: 2,285 Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
		BBC Report Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA)	Chilwell  17' Saka  40' Abraham  59' Ward-Prowse  79' Grealish  86'

Andorra

England

01 Josep Gómes 18 Txus Rubio 22 Christian García 31' 03 Marc Vales 20 Max Llovera 21 Marc García 02 Cristian Martínez 64' 04 Marc Rebés 08 Márcio Vieira 23 Jordi Rubio 82' 09 Aarón Sánchez 64' Substitutes: 05 Emili García 63' 06 Ildefons Lima 31' 63' 07 Marc Pujol 11 Sergi Moreno 12 Iker Álvarez 13 Xisco Pires 14 Jordi Aláez 64' 16 Eric de Pablos 17 Joan Cervós 82' 19 Ricard Fernández 64' Manager: Koldo Álvarez

01 Sam Johnstone 02 Kieran Trippier 05 John Stones 60' 06 Conor Coady 03 Ben Chilwell 10 Jesse Lingard 73' 04 James Ward-Prowse 08 Phil Foden 07 Bukayo Saka 09 Tammy Abraham 80' 11 Jadon Sancho 72' Substitutes: 12 Kyle Walker 13 Aaron Ramsdale 14 Jordan Henderson 15 Fikayo Tomori 60' 16 Tyrone Mings 17 Declan Rice 18 Raheem Sterling 19 Mason Mount 73' 20 Harry Kane 21 Jack Grealish 72' 22 Jordan Pickford 23 Ollie Watkins 80' Manager: Gareth Southgate

League table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Notes
England	7	6	1	0	23	2	+21	19	Qualification to 2022 FIFA World Cup
Albania	7	5	0	2	11	6	+5	15	Advance to second round
Poland	7	4	2	1	24	8	+16	14
Hungary	7	3	1	3	12	11	+1	10
Andorra	7	1	0	6	4	19	−15	3
San Marino	7	0	0	7	1	29	−28	0

See also

• 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I

External links

• Match report at BBC.co.uk
• Match report at UEFA.com