England manager Thomas Tuchel launched a scathing critique of his team’s performance following a narrow 1-0 victory over Andorra in their World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday. Despite securing three points at the RCDE Stadium, the German coach expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of seriousness and urgency from his players.
Harry Kane’s 50th-minute tap-in spared England’s blushes against a side ranked 173rd in the world, but the lacklustre display drew boos from the traveling supporters, who dominated the stands in Barcelona.
“I didn’t like the attitude in how we ended the game,” Tuchel said in his post-match remarks. “We started well in the first 25 minutes, but the last half-hour was disappointing. We lacked the seriousness and urgency required in a World Cup qualifier.”
Although England remain top of Group K with a perfect record under Tuchel’s leadership, the performance did little to inspire confidence ahead of next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Tuchel admitted that the team appeared to switch off in the final stages, describing the players’ body language as troubling. “It felt like a cup tie where the favourite forgets they are in danger. At 1-0, anything can happen. We were not sharp enough to respond.”
The England boss acknowledged that fatigue may have played a role, with many of the squad enduring a long domestic season and several players preparing for the Club World Cup immediately after Tuesday’s friendly against Senegal.
Still, Tuchel warned that excuses could not justify complacency. “The energy dropped when we needed the opposite. We got away with a win, but that’s not the standard we’re aiming for.”
The match, which felt more like a preseason affair than a competitive qualifier, left fans audibly frustrated, with jeers ringing out throughout the second half. Tuchel said he understood the supporters’ disappointment.
“The booing is OK,” he said. “They were underwhelmed and not happy with the performance. We can’t blame them for that. In fact, I thought they were fantastic throughout.”
When asked about reported abusive chants directed at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Tuchel responded: “I didn’t hear that. If it happened, of course it’s not acceptable, but I personally didn’t hear anything.”
England return to action against Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday, where Tuchel will be looking for a far more convincing display.
“We’ll take a proper look at the match and make it clear what we expect,” he added. “We’ll continue to encourage the players, but improvement is needed.”
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