England won but it felt like they lost.

England had an unconvincing win over Andorra.

But it was hard to call it a perfect evening. The image of players applauding the crowd in the empty stands was a mirror image of the lacklustre performance that Thomas Tuchel and his players had just displayed.

A dull Villa Park

Twenty years after England last played at Villa Park, fans expected a football feast. Instead, they went home disappointed. The Holte End – a place renowned for its passion – was a sea of empty green seats as thousands of fans left before the final whistle. The question is: why does a victory leave the crowd so indifferent?

In terms of results, England got the job done. A Christian Garcia own goal from Noni Madueke’s cross and a precise header from Declan Rice kept the Three Lions at the top of Group K. They have yet to concede a goal under Tuchel in qualifying, and their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup are all but assured.

But if you only look at the score, you will miss the truth: this was a performance lacking in energy, ideas and belief. Andorra - ranked 174th in the world - defended fiercely for 90 minutes, allowing England 83% of the ball. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was practically unemployed. A one-sided game, but that side was soulless.

Thomas Tuchel has yet to show any signs of improvement since taking charge of the England team.

Tuchel was appointed after Southgate resigned after failing at Euro 2024. He was expected to bring a breath of fresh air: strong pressing, diverse attacks, and a strong tactical imprint. But for more than a year, the "Tuchel imprint" has remained elusive.

The statistics show a regression. Compared to the 1-0 win over Andorra in June, England took fewer shots (11 to 20), created fewer big chances (4 to 6) and had fewer touches in the box (41 to 52). Although Tuchel says his team are “moving forward”, the reality is that they are moving at a snail’s pace.

In that bleak picture, Elliot Anderson was a rare bright spot. The young midfielder from Nottingham Forest made his debut and impressed with his energy and boldness in handling the ball. Tuchel praised him, seeing it as a positive sign for the future. But a new player alone cannot make up for the disjointed play in the team.

Tuchel gave the starting position back to Marcus Rashford - the player who is on loan from Barcelona. But instead of proving his worth, Rashford made people even more suspicious. After a few promising starts, he quickly faded, lacked confidence, and failed to leave any mark.

Kane faded against Andorra's defense.

Harry Kane struggled against a solid defence, while Eberechi Eze - who was expected to bring creativity - disappointed in the No. 10 role. Tuchel himself admitted: "Eze trained very well but today he had difficulty making decisions."

A win against Andorra means little. The real test will be Serbia in Belgrade next week – a more passionate crowd, a more physical and hungry opposition. That will be the true measure of England’s strength under Tuchel. If they continue to play at the same slow, uninspired pace as at Villa Park, they could find themselves in trouble.

England must change

Tuchel has asked his players to be “more aggressive and aggressive”, but the pitch has shown otherwise. The ball movement is slow, the attacking ideas are poor, and the final passes often fail at the decisive stage.

Noni Madueke had some good chances but lacked the final pass. Kane didn't have the ball to shoot. Rashford lacked the confidence to explode.

It wasn't just a matter of tactics, it was also a matter of psychology. Fans sensed the lethargy, and they responded by leaving the stadium early.

The British always expect the national team not only to win, but to win beautifully and convincingly.

The English have always expected their national team to not only win, but to win beautifully and convincingly. Under Southgate, despite criticism of conservatism, at least the team had an identity: discipline, unity and stability. Under Tuchel, those elements seem to be disappearing.

In fact, no one is asking for an 8-0 win over Andorra like in the past. But when even a 2-0 win cannot bring excitement, it means the team is going in the wrong direction.

England won all, kept a clean sheet, and topped the group - on paper, those were perfect numbers. But behind that seemingly bright picture was a truth: "The Three Lions" under Tuchel were losing their excitement, identity, and trust in the audience.

Belgrade will be the decisive test. If Tuchel does not find a new formula quickly, not only the World Cup but also the faith of his fans could leave him - just like the thousands of empty seats at Villa Park today.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-anh-thang-ma-nhu-thua-post1583170.html