
EPL Index
·5. September 2025
England vs Andorra: Match Preview, Latest Team News and Score Prediction

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Yahoo sportsEPL Index
·5. September 2025
England return to World Cup qualifier duty this weekend, meeting Andorra at Villa Park. The symmetry of this fixture is almost poetic. In June, it was a laboured 1-0 win away, the sort of game where dominance was not reflected in goals. Now, Thomas Tuchel’s side arrive with maximum points from three matches, perched comfortably at the top of Group K, and with a chance to reinforce their grip on qualification.
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England are in total control of Group K and will be looking to take another big step towards confirming their place at the World Cup next summer. Yet the sheen of perfection has already dimmed. Defeat to Senegal in a friendly last month interrupted Tuchel’s flawless record. Against Andorra, the demand is not merely victory, but a performance that restores rhythm and reassurance.
The manager does not arrive with a full deck. Injuries have stripped England of Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill. Adam Wharton’s withdrawal with an adductor injury has led to Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s recall, his first call-up since 2018. There are debutant possibilities too, with Jarell Quansah added to the defensive options, while Djed Spence and Elliot Anderson could feature for the first time.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s omission has sparked debate, with Tuchel bluntly stating that Reece James currently offers more for his plans. This will be another subplot in a week where England’s depth is being tested and scrutinised.
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England’s opponents arrive with little to recommend them. Four games, four defeats, no goals, a minus-eight goal difference. For Andorra, qualification campaigns are less about genuine hope of progression and more about the occasional defiance, the chance to frustrate. Yet even those small ambitions look beyond them here.
The previous meeting provided the anomaly of England failing to score at least twice against this opposition, a reminder that dominance does not always equate to fluency. Tuchel will be aware of the optics, that a low-key win will feel like a let-down, particularly with Serbia looming on the horizon.
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The expectation is emphatic. Despite being without a number of key names, England should win this and extend their perfect record in qualification under Tuchel. A 4-0 victory has been forecast, and anything significantly less will raise questions.
Yet the broader story is not simply about Andorra. It is about England in transition, the new manager finding his balance, the squad absorbing injuries while still asserting superiority. The qualifiers provide the canvas, Serbia the looming test, but for now, Andorra are the backdrop against which England’s next step towards the World Cup will be measured.
Head-to-head history offers no surprises: seven wins for England, none for Andorra, no draws. Another chapter is expected to follow the same pattern.