England 2-0 Andorra Player Ratings: Reece James Rated 8.5/10 as Dominant Display Secures 2-0 Victory

A highly anticipated European qualifier match began at Villa Park, with a huge turnout of Three Lions fans eager to see Thomas Tuchel’s new approach, which made headlines as the former Chelsea coach dropped some big names like Real Madrid’s right back Trent Alexander-Arnold and picked some controversial names going forward in the European Qualifiers.

England dominated possession early, while Andorra defended well with their 4-4-2 low block formation till the 20th-minute mark. However, one ball was able to pierce through Andorra's defense and went in the net courtesy of an Andorra defender whose clearance attempt failed deliberately and went inside their own goal. From then until halftime, England slowed their attack, focusing on possession, while Andorra tried counterattacks and long balls but failed to cross the halfway line even once. The first half ended with England in control.

The second goal was a powerful header from Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice in the second half. What stood out to us was Andorra's spirited defence, but England's quality was simply too much to handle in this match. Reece James was a constant menace down the right flank. He was easily the best player on the pitch. The midfield, marshalled by the impressive performance from young Englishman Elliot Anderson, never gave Andorra a moment's peace. While not a goal-fest, it was a professional performance that got the job done.

Here are the England vs Andorra Player Ratings

England Player Ratings vs Andorra

Here are England Player Ratings vs Andorra

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He was barely tested by the Andorran attack. What we noticed was his distribution remained tidy when called upon. He organized his defense well from the back. It's hard to rate a keeper who had so little to do, but he made no mistakes.

Defenders

Reece James - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was a force of nature down the right side, providing a superb assist for the second goal. He created two big chances and was a constant outlet. His defensive work was also solid when required. An all-around brilliant performance before being subbed off.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6.0: A mixed bag of a performance. He seemed a little off the pace at times and was caught offside once. He was composed on the ball with a high pass accuracy. But he lost possession a few too many times for our liking. Still a learning experience for the young defender.

Marc Guéhi - 7.0: A very composed and assured display at the back. He was extremely comfortable in possession, racking up over 100 passes. We saw him step out of defence confidently. He handled the minimal threat posed by Andorra with ease before his substitution.

Dan Burn - 7.0: A very busy and effective performance. He had an incredible 139 touches of the ball. He was strong in the air, winning most of his aerial duels. His passing from the back was a key part of England's build-up play. The late yellow card was the only blemish on a solid outing.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 8.0: Dominated the midfield battle with authority. He capped off a great performance with a well-taken header to make it 2-0. His passing was crisp and he broke up play effectively. He was a commanding presence before being withdrawn. Truly a top-class showing.

Eberechi Eze - 6.5: A lively and energetic performance full of bright sparks. He was always looking to make things happen, testing the keeper multiple times. However, he missed a big chance and his final product was sometimes lacking. A frustrating day where he could have had more.

Marcus Rashford - 6.0: Looked dangerous when running with the ball but ultimately disappointed. He completed some dribbles but couldn't find a decisive pass or shot. From our perspective, he seemed to fade out of the game for long periods. A quiet performance by his high standards.

Noni Madueke - 6.5: Similar to Eze, he was full of running and trickery but lacked the finishing touch. He created a few chances for his teammates and himself. The big chance missed will haunt him. He needs to add more end product to his game but the potential is clearly there.

Elliot Anderson - 8.0: An absolutely immense, all-action display in the middle of the park. He was everywhere. His stat of 15 ball recoveries tells you everything you need to know about his work rate. He was also tidy in possession and drove the team forward. A truly impressive performance.

Forwards

Harry Kane - 6.0: A strangely subdued and frustrating night for the captain. He was starved of service for large parts of the match. He managed only 12 touches. The one big chance he did get, a header from a corner, he put wide. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Substitutes

Anthony Gordon - 6.0: Came on and showed some energy but couldn't make a significant impact.
Tino Livramento - 6.0: Slotted in seamlessly for James and looked solid.
Morgan Gibbs-White - 6.5: Looked bright and forced a save from the keeper shortly after coming on.
Ezri Konsa - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

T. Tuchel - 7.0: Set his team up to dominate and they did just that. His tactics overwhelmed Andorra from the start. The substitutions were sensible, allowing key players a rest and others valuable minutes. A professional job well done.

Andorra Player Ratings vs England

Here are Andorra Player Ratings vs England

Goalkeeper

Iker Álvarez - 7.5: Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse. He made five crucial saves to keep his team in the game for as long as possible. Despite one error leading to a shot, he was Andorra's best player. A very busy and commendable performance under constant pressure.

Defenders

Max Llovera - 7.0: A warrior at the back. He made an incredible 10 clearances and put his body on the line repeatedly. He also made a crucial clearance off the line. He fought bravely against the English onslaught. A truly battling display.

Christian Garcia - 5.0: A heartbreaking night for the defender. The own goal was incredibly unfortunate and set his team on the back foot. Besides that moment, he actually defended reasonably well with 7 clearances. But the own goal defines his game.

Moisés San Nicolás - 6.0: A solid and disciplined defensive shift. He stuck to his tasks well and made a couple of important tackles. He offered little going forward, as expected. He can be proud of his defensive effort against top opposition.

Ian Olivera - 7.0: Another standout performer in the Andorran backline. He was a rock, making 9 clearances and 4 interceptions. He read the game brilliantly to cut out numerous England attacks. A very intelligent and brave defensive performance.

Biel Borra - 6.5: A tenacious display, winning an impressive four tackles. He showed great determination and fight. He was booked for his troubles but never shied away from a challenge. A performance full of grit.

Midfielders

Marc Vales - 5.5: The captain had a difficult evening trying to contain England's midfield. He struggled to get on the ball and make any real impact. He was eventually substituted after an hour. A tough day at the office for him.

Pau Babot - 5.5: Picked up an early yellow card which hampered his ability to be aggressive. He worked hard but was often bypassed by England's quick passing. He put in a shift but was outclassed in the midfield battle.

Aron Rodrigo - 6.0: One of the few Andorran players who tried to carry the fight to England. He attempted several dribbles and showed some flashes of skill. However, he lost the ball too often in dangerous areas. A brave but ultimately fruitless effort.

Joan Cervós - 6.0: Worked tirelessly for his team, making four tackles. He tracked back diligently and tried to support his defenders. He was a willing runner but had little opportunity to influence the game in an attacking sense.

Forwards

Cucu - 5.5: A thankless and isolating role up front. He was completely starved of service and had to feed on scraps. He battled hard against the physical English defenders but never had a clear sight of goal. It was an incredibly difficult night for the lone striker.

Substitutes

Guillaume López - 5.5: Came on but struggled to get into the rhythm of the game.
Joel Guillén - 5.5: Had little impact after being introduced.
Dacu - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.
Chus Rubio - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.
Marc Rebés - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

J. Álvarez de Eulate - 6.0: His game plan was clear: defend deep and frustrate England. For large parts of the game, it worked. His team was organised and fought for every ball. Ultimately, the gulf in quality was too vast to overcome, but his team showed great spirit.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Reece James