Football

Andorra 0-1 England, FIFA WC 2026 Qualifiers: Madueke Insists Three Lions Will Improve Under Tuchel

Harry Kane's 50th-minute strike 바카라“ his 450th goal across all competitions for club and country 바카라“ proved decisive as England made it three wins from three in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Noni-Madueke
Noni Madueke in action for England against Andorra
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England's players know Saturday's uninspiring 1-0 victory over Andorra was not good enough, but winger Noni Madueke is certain they will improve under Thomas Tuchel.

Harry Kane's 50th-minute strike 바카라“ his 450th goal across all competitions for club and country 바카라“ proved decisive as England made it three wins from three in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

However, England were far from their best against opponents ranked 173rd in the world, whose only competitive wins since 2019 came against San Marino and Liechtenstein.

The Three Lions have now won five straight matches without conceding for the first time since 1982, while Tuchel is the first England manager to win his first three games in charge without conceding a goal.

Chelsea winger Madueke, who assisted Kane's close-range finish, knows more is expected but believes Tuchel's early matches have provided a foundation for the future.

"We haven't lost yet, we haven't conceded yet. There are grounds for optimism," Madueke told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Today wasn't as everyone would have hoped in terms of the scoreline, but we won the game. My job is to create and score goals. I was able to create one today, so I'm pleased.

"We're not stupid, we know the scoreline isn't the one we wanted to have. I thought there were good parts of the performance. It's not all doom and gloom. There are positives to take."

Asked about Tuchel's demands, Madueke added: "He is very intense. very clear with what he wants. 

"He has high standards. He doesn't allow anyone to drop under them. That's the kind of coach that will benefit England."

England had 20 shots, hitting the target with 10 of them, while Andorra only managed four and failed to hit the target. 

The Three Lions also won the expected goals (xG) battle by 3.35 to 0.3, which Tuchel pointed out as he described the match as a learning experience.

"The last half an hour I did not like at all. Everything is a learning," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We are smarter than before and we will talk about it honestly and directly and try to do it better.

"It surprised me because we started well. We created an xG of three and underperformed with one. It just shows we were not precise enough and had a lack of quality in finishing.

"It is our second camp, and we can do much better. That includes me. It always takes two to tango and we need to do better on Tuesday. 

"There are no excuses. There was a lack of being aggressive in duels and then it becomes like what we saw, and it did not have the quality we wished. There is a lot to do."

England are in action again on Tuesday, when they face Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground.

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