England maintained their perfect record in World Cup qualifying Group K with a 2-0 victory over Andorra at Villa Park. However, the performance was far from sparkling, leaving fans and critics alike underwhelmed. An own goal in the first half and a Declan Rice header in the second secured the win, but the Three Lions struggled to truly ignite against a resolute, albeit limited, Andorran side.

The match marked England's first international at Villa Park since 2005. Despite the victory, the atmosphere was described as "pancake flat" for much of the game. England dominated possession and territory, but struggled to break down Andorra's stubborn defense. The opening goal came courtesy of Andorran defender Christian Garcia, who inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net after pressure from Noni Madueke. Madueke proved to be a lively presence throughout the match.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel made changes in the second half, introducing Tino Livramento, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa. The changes aimed to inject more dynamism into the attack. Shortly after the changes, England doubled their lead through Declan Rice, who headed home from a cross by Reece James. It was Rice's sixth goal for England.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, England's performance raised questions. While they secured the three points and a clean sheet, their failure to create more clear-cut chances against a team ranked low in the FIFA World Rankings was a concern. England are fourth in the FIFA World Rankings, while Andorra has lost all 46 of their matches against teams ranked in the top 20 at the time of the game.

Tuchel acknowledged his team should have scored more goals. He felt the team lost focus after the first goal, but regained it in the second half, creating further chances. Tuchel also praised Elliot Anderson, who was making his senior debut.

Looking ahead, England face a sterner test against Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday. Tuchel will be hoping for a more convincing performance as England continues their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the Americas. Meanwhile, Andorra, having lost all five of their fixtures in the group, will visit Estonia for a friendly on the same day.