Elliot Anderson shines on debut for England: Winners and losers in midfield shake-up as Thomas Tuchel struggles to ignite Three Lions
England discovered a potential midfield gem in Elliot Anderson, while struggling to find excitement in their performance against Andorra. Thomas Tuchel faces criticism as the team fails to deliver on expectations.
The Three Lions made hard work seeing off Andorra and the coach was fooling no one when claiming to be satisfied with what he saw.England took a big step towards finding the answer to one problem during their 2-0 win over Andorra: they look to have stumbled upon their ideal holding midfielder in Elliot Anderson. They are no closer, however, to solving an even bigger issue: Thomas Tuchel's side are awfully dull to watch and can barely get past the most limited of opponents.Anderson made his senior debut in Saturday's World Cup qualifier but he looked like he had been patrolling England's midfield for years. He broke up Andorra's play with ease and quickly distributed the ball down the pitch, giving the team a sense of confidence and urgency that they had lacked when they last faced Andorra three months ago."Very good, very, very good," was Tuchel's assessment of the debutant's display. "He was a bit nervous this week but then did good, and we said let's try it, and he did it. That was the test and I think he passed the test. Why should he not play in Serbia?" Reece James, meanwhile, called Anderson "a phenomenal player" who "fully deserves to be here" and said he should have been called up to the senior team sooner.But for all the positivity about Anderson, who has jumped to the front of the queue to partner Declan Rice in midfield at the 2026 World Cup, there was little else to get excited about from England's performance. The Three Lions could not turn their utter dominance into many clear-cut chances, much less score many goals. The rotating cast of attackers failed to sparkle, wasting their opportunity in the limelight due to injuries to the team's biggest names.And the man who has the most to answer after another dreary performance is Tuchel himself. The German was hired by the FA to take England to the next level amid complaints that the team had become too cautious under Gareth Southgate. But instead of injecting more excitement into the team, he appears to be draining it.GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Villa Park...
Elliot Anderson Impresses on Debut
Elliot Anderson showcased his talent and composure on his England debut, standing out as a strong contender for the midfield role alongside Declan Rice. His ability to break up play and distribute the ball efficiently earned him well-deserved praise from teammates and coaches.
England's Struggles to Convert Dominance
Despite their victory over Andorra, England's performance revealed a lack of creativity and clinical finishing in front of goal. The team's attackers failed to capitalize on their opportunities, highlighting the need for more fluidity and dynamism in their play.
Thomas Tuchel's Dull England
Thomas Tuchel's tenure as England manager has been marred by uninspired performances and a lack of excitement. Amid expectations of a more dynamic and attacking style of play, Tuchel has yet to deliver, leaving fans and pundits questioning his ability to elevate the team's level of play.
