Andorra vs England, Group Stage 2008

· UEFA European Championship Qualifying

Andorra

FT
0 - 3

England

54': Steven Gerrard
76': Steven Gerrard
90'+2': David Nugent

About

Andorra are hosting England at Montjuic Stadium, , Spain, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA European Championship Qualifying.

Match Timeline

0': Welcome along for the second Euro 2008 qualifier in five days. It's Andorra v England from the switched venue of Espanyol's stadium in Spain and we're minutes away from kick-off.
0': It's a blustery and rainy evening in Spain and England will be hoping to avoid any slip-ups against their European minnows.
0': The teams are out on the pitch and currently on anthemn duty. Terry blasts it out whereas Rooney is silent and miserable.
0': England welcome back Ashley Cole in place of Jamie Carragher while Micah Richards replaces Phil Neville at right-back. But the main change is Frank Lampard out of the line-up and Stewart Downing in. Was he dropped? Is he injured? We might not ever know, but he won't play any part tonight.
0': England get the game under way.
1': England are officially the away side in Spain tonight, but it will seem like a home game with the amount of English fans in attendance. They outnumber their opponents who had to make a four-hour trip south for the clash.
2': Andorra look to have adopted a very defensive line-up. Hardly surprising really when you consider the attacking threat in the England side.
3': McClaren's already got his famous sheet of paper out. Hopefully he's figured out how to make England play attractive football.
4': Andorra set up the barracades in front of goal as England pile forward in numbers early on.
5': A slight worry for Richards early on. He was involved in a coming together but he dusts himself off and can continue.
6': A scuffle breaks out with Rooney unsurprisingly in the middle of things. Pushing and shoving ensues but no cards follow.
8': The Andorrans are really starting to stir things up. They've obviously been instructed to get under the skin of the England side and Gerrard and Rooney are on the end of some verbal jousting.
10': No chances yet and no real rythmn from England. They need to refrain from getting caught up in these minor scuffles and keep their cool.
11': Andy Johnson is unceremoniously chopped down by Lima who gets his name taken by the referee.
12': Rooney takes the resulting free-kick. He manages to get it up and down over the wall but it's well wide of the right post.
14': No goals yet and McClaren is already screaming at his players. No need to panic just yet. His side are enjoying all the possession, but as yet, can't find the killer pass.
15': How on earth did Ruiz get away with that. I've got the benefit of the replay and could see that he deliberately elbowed Owen Hargreaves in the face. Poor from the ref.
17': Gerrard cracks an effort from 30 yards out and in the swirling wind, Alvarez does well to get down to his left and get a firm palm to it.
19': The wind may have a part to play in the game tonight. Gerrard's effort got caught up nastily and should act as encouragement for others to have a pop.
20': The mood in the stadium isn't at all positive an the England fans are booing and jeering the players.
21': Steve McClaren is bearing the brunt of the fans' chants and they desperately want to see an improvement - and fast!
22': England totally own possession at the moment and are desperately looking for a way past this stubborn defence. The wingers really aren't getting forward enough and England need to take the game to their opponents.
24': Another elbow to the face from an Andorran player and this time Toscano gets a booking for his troubles. It was an ugly challenge on Gerrard and Terry isn't best pleased.
25': Andorra simply aren't interested in scoring it would seem. They're not throwing anyone forward and England can easily afford to send the full-backs on.
26': Andy Johnson gets in a snap-shot from the right-hand edge of the box. He went for power rather than placement and as a result it sails over the bar.
27': It's almost like a training exercise with one team doing all the attacking and the other looking to brush up on their defending.
29': 'What a load of rubbish' sing the England fans who obviously aren't impressed by this drivel that England are serving up.
30': England are in effect playing with just two defenders - Ferdinand and Terry. The two full-backs have pushed on and it's making for a compact final third.
32': The quality on the final ball has been poor from England. There's no composure or quality and it's amazing to see these talented footballers lacking basic their skills.
34': Gerrard looks to inject some energy into this lifeless England side. He forges forward and creates an opening. Richards supplied the cross for Downing who should have scored with a side-foot volley inside the box. He didn't even find the target - poor!
35': Lennon has moved into the position just in behind the front two with Richards moving into the right-wing slot. But it's not paying off so far.
39': The fans are restless as their team are lifeless. They are given something to be pleased about though - a chance. Johnson fires in a low shot forcing Alvarez into a fine low save. Not much of a chance but the keeper did well to keep out the danger.
40': England look desperate to get a goal before the break. They are taking free-kicks and throw-ins quickly in order to speed things along. They sense a nasty reaction at the break.
42': The England fans are taking every opportunity to boo their players as a Gerrard fires a aimless and overhit free-kick into the stands. It's pretty shoddy stuff out there.
44': 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' is the latest chant. They've paid alot of money to come and see their players and so far they have seen nowhere near enough quality, passion or excitement.
45': Four minutes to be added on. The Andorrans have wasted plenty of time this half and it gives England that little bit extra to find a goal.
47': Downing smashes a right-foot volley just wide afterfine work from Rooney. It was unlucky, but he would have been disappointed not to have hit the target.
48': One more chance for the records, but it won't ease the supporters' pain right now. They are not a happy bunch I can tell you.
48': HALF-TIME: ANDORRA 0-0 ENGLAND
48': That was quite honestly a pathetic half of football. Andorra predictably have nothing to offer and England are again deviod of any imagination or creativity. Harsh words needed in the dressing room.
45': We're back in play!
45': England are on the attack straight away as they search for a desperate goal.
47': Hargreaves drags a half chance wide of the post, but England certainly look to have more zest about them in these opening couple of minutes.
48': Andorra are timewasting again, Gerrard has a moan but Andorra are more than happy to play down the clock, even if we have just restarted.
49': Rooney superbly brings down Terry's long pass but he can't pick out the on-rushing Johnson who was scampering forward to meet it.
50': Downing unleashes another right-footer. It's his weaker foot but he made good contact on it and it fizzes low into the keeper's arms.
52': For the first time in the match England look like they are likely to threaten the Andorran goal. They've started with much more tempo but their quality is still as poor as in the first half.
53': GOAL: ANDORRA 0-1 ENGLAND
53': At last! England have their goal, it's been a long time coming but STEVEN GERRARD has broken the deadlock. He was teed up on the edge of the box by Rooney and Gerrard hit his half volley into the ground and into the back of the net. Relief all round.
56': Another couple of cards dished out by the ref and one goes to Wayne Rooney who will now miss England's match against Estonia next up.
58': A scrappy few minutes ensue and England lose their rythmn temporarily. An injury to Richards and some needless fouls help to frustrate England.
60': And it looks like Richards won't be able to play any further part. He's leaving on a stretcher and Kieron Dyer replaces him.
60': In among the changes Rooney is withdrawn to protect him from another booking. Defoe comes on to replace him.
62': England have switched to a back three after Richards' departure. The fans are a bit more chirpier after the goal and the national anthemn rings out around the ground.
64': Another effort from the edge of the area from Gerrard, but this time he doesn't get a clean contact on it and it bobbles into Alvarez's arms. Nice work from Dyer to create the chance but still only 1-0.
65': The game is surely won even at 1-0. Andorra have nothing going forward and England are looking fresher since Dyer's arrival.
66': England penalty appeal is waved away by the referee who thought Gerrard had taken a dive. He did, and should have been booked for his antics.
67': Lovely work from Lennon down the left creates a chance for Dyer from close-range. But he horribly shanks his effort wide with his weaker left foot. It's the first time I've seen Lennon go beyond his marker this match and he left him in his wake on that occassion.
69': Ashley Cole shrugs his arms when on the ball, he's pointing out that he can't find a pass and his England players are running away instead of running to the ball.
71': England fans are cheering every pass at the moment. The Ole's are out, but I'm not so sure they're not ironic you know.
72': England have drifted back into that mode of incredibly dull football. They have held the ball for s long, but you don't often get the impression they will break through.
73': Even though they are behind, Andorra will look upon this as a victory. They have so far kept the score to just 1-0 and can be proud of their efforts. Long way to go yet though and England won't be happy to have scored just one.
75': GOAL: ANDORRA 0-2 ENGLAND
75': A goal created and finished by STEVEN GERRARD. An industrious, run from midfield and a lovely interchange with Defoe gets him in on goal and he doesn't disappoint. It was a sparkling move that Gerrard led and superbly put away.
77': Major altercation in the middle of the field with Cole going in high on Garcia and he then shoves him to the ground. Somehow he escapes with only a yellow. Ugly scenes.
80': In the middle of the scuffle Nugent has come on for his England debut.
80': Are England content with two or do they want to push for more? They adopt their familiar position of attack on the edge of the box as they prepare another assault on goal.
82': Plenty more interplay from England and less labouring in the passing, a stark contrast from the first half when they couldn't string a move together.
83': The England fans certainly want more and Dyer almost grants their wish. He got into the right position but stubbed the ground as he pulled the trigger and the ball bobbles wide.
85': Not too many inspiring performances in the England side - Gerrard being the exception. He swipes a half volley after Nugent's lay-off and it lands on the roof of the net.
88': Nugent squanders a chance to mark his debut with a goal. It was a crisp strike but just off target.
88': The game is just ebbing away now as England play keep ball among themselves.
90': GOAL: ANDORRA 0-3 ENGLAND
90': Nugent has a goal on his debut and he won't ever score an easier one in his career. Defoe broke through and squeezed his shot under the keeper. It rolled through and Nugent crept in and pipped in the lose ball on the line.
92': FULL-TIME: ANDORRA 0-3 ENGLAND
92': Three points and three goals, but don't let that fool you. England were poor for long periods of this match and had it not been for Gerrard's initiative, who knows what kind of misery would have been placed upon the fans.

Statistics

ENG		AND
14	Fouls	11
3	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	0
3	Offsides	1
3	Corner Kicks	0
0	Saves	11
82	Possession	18
25	SHOTS	2
12	ON GOAL	0
0.0	On Target %	0.0
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
0	Accurate Passes	0
0	Passes	0
0.0	Pass Completion %	0.0
0	Accurate Crosses	0
42	Crosses	3
0.0	Cross %	0.0
0	Long Balls	0
0	Accurate Long Balls	0
0.0	Long Balls %	0.0
0	Blocked Shots	0
0	Effective Tackles	0
0	Tackles	0
0.0	Tackle %	0.0
0	Interceptions	0
0	Effective Clearances	0
1	Clearances	23

Game Information

Competition: UEFA European Championship Qualifying

Venue: Montjuic Stadium
Location: , Spain
Attendance: 12,800

EURO Qualifying Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Albania	8	+8	15
2	Czechia	8	+6	15
3	Poland	8	0	11
4	Moldova	8	-3	10

Full Table

Line-Ups

Andorra

No.	Name
1	Koldo Jesus Luis de Eulate Alvarez (GK)
4	Oscar Sonejee
5	Antoni Lima
2	Josep Ayala
3	Marc Cano Bernaus
6	Jordi Escura
7	Márcio Vieira
8	Genis Garcia
11	Justo Ruiz
10	Marc Pujol
9	Juan Carlos Toscano

Andorra Substitutes:

Alfonso Sanchez, Alex Somoza, Jordi Rubio, Juli Ariza Fernandez, Francisco Martinez, Manolo Jimenez, Sergi Moreno.

England

No.	Name
1	Paul Robinson (GK)
2	Micah Richards
6	John Terry
5	Rio Ferdinand
3	Ashley Cole
11	Aaron Lennon
7	Owen Hargreaves
4	Steven Gerrard
8	Stewart Downing
10	Andrew Johnson
9	Wayne Rooney

England Substitutes:

Ben Foster, Jamie Carragher, Gareth Barry, Kieron Courtney Dyer, Michael Carrick, David Nugent, Jermain Defoe.

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