Preview: England vs Andorra – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Thomas Tuchel‘s England have two perfect records to maintain when Andorra visit Villa Park for Saturday’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying showdown in Group K.

The Three Lions lead the way at the summit but made the wrong sort of history last time out, while their perennially pummelled opponents are putting up little resistance once again.

Match preview

The glass-half-empty brigade have already been out in full force after Tuchel’s first four matches at the England helm, and with some good reason, as the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain head coach oversaw an unprecedented losing feat three months ago.

Indeed, Senegal rocked up to the City Ground in Nottinghamshire and left with a momentous 3-1 win – one that represented an African nation’s first-ever victory over England and just the second time that the Three Lions had lost a home game by two or more goals after scoring first.

Pessimism had already been brewing after England laboured to a forgettable 1-0 away success over their upcoming opponents away from home, albeit one that kept them perfect in Group K with three wins from a possible three, as well as three clean sheets.

The 1966 champions also overcame Albania and Latvia without conceding in March, although they are not blowing their foes to smithereens in the manner that some may have hoped for, following the perceived conservative tactics of his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

Nevertheless, England’s record in World Cup qualifiers more than speaks for itself; they have not lost any WC preliminary match since an away defeat versus Ukraine in 2009, while their last such home loss came a quarter of a century ago against Germany.

Of course, Andorra need not travel so far back for their most recent World Cup qualifying loss away or indeed at home, as after four matches in Group K, the world’s 174th-ranked nation are – as expected – rooted to the bottom of the pile.

While England have a 100% record both points-wise and clean sheets-wise, Andorra are zero on the points front and zero on the goals front, going down to the Three Lions, Serbia, Albania and Latvia without finding the back of the net once.

Qualification is still a mathematical possibility for Koldo Alvarez’s side, who lie five points below Albania in the playoff spot, but even the most ardent Andorran should not expect their side to produce a monumental turnaround as autumn approaches.

Across their last 10 matches in all competitions, the visitors’ only victory came against the infamously poor San Marino, and they have failed to score in each of their other nine fixtures during that run.

It will therefore come as little surprise to learn that Andorra have lost each of their previous seven meetings against England by an aggregate score of 26-0, although June’s narrow loss was the first time that they managed to avoid shipping multiple goals to the Euro 2024 runners-up.

England World Cup Qualifying – Europe form:

England form (all competitions):

Andorra World Cup Qualifying – Europe form:

Andorra form (all competitions):

Team News

It would not be an international break without at least one England player pulling out, and this time around, that man is Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, whose withdrawal led to a shock recall for Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the first time since the pre-COVID days of 2018.

Tottenham Hotspur full-back Djed Spence and Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson have also been included in the senior ranks for the first time, and debuts are not beyond the realm of possibility, as Tuchel may opt to save his strongest XI for Serbia and go experimental here.

However, one certainty is the presence of Harry Kane, as the England captain prepares to win his 108th cap for his nation, thus moving level with Bobby Moore into a tie for fifth all-time in the England men’s team.

Meanwhile, Andorra boss Alvarez has selected another squad brimming with international experience, and midfielder Marc Pujol – still going strong at the age of 43 – sports the captain’s armband as he seeks his 123rd cap.

Fellow engine room enforcer Marc Vales – a younger veteran at 35 – is also in line to make his 101st appearance for the national team, while Iker Alvarez of Spanish second-tier side Cordoba starts in goal.

England possible starting lineup:

D. Henderson; Livramento, Stones, Burn, Spence; Rice, J. Henderson; Bowen, Rogers, Rashford; Kane

Andorra possible starting lineup:

Alvarez; Borra, Olivera, Llovera, San Nicolas, M. Garcia; Martinez, M. Vales, M. Rebes, Cervos; R. Fernandez

We say: England 4-0 Andorra

England’s forgettable triumph in Andorra over the summer may go down as one of the ‘worst’ wins ever seen from the Three Lions, but expect Tuchel’s men to put things right at Villa Park.

The visitors’ rearguard-heavy 5-4-1 shape will be breached eventually, and once it is, the goals should flow for the group leaders.

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