England vs Andorra LIVE: Stream, score, TV channel, team news, kick-off time – Bamford STARTS World Cup qualifiying tie

ENGLAND 0-0 ANDORRA

7. Bellingham bursts forward into the area to latch on to a lofted ball, and, although he slips over, the midfielder regains his balance and composure to weave past one opponent, then a second, and finally a third.

ENGLAND 0-0 ANDORRA

5. Saka’s pace causes trouble for Chus Rubio, and the Andorran is tricked into conceding a foul.

It’s a promising position for Trippier to deliver a dead ball into the area, but his cross in the direction of Bamford at the far post is too long.

ENGLAND 0-0 ANDORRA

3. England settle into possession, and begin to dictate the tempo. Expect this to be the pattern of the game.

There’s an early opportunity for Bamford to showcase his hold-up play but a long ball in his direction bounces off him inside the box.

ENGLAND 0-0 ANDORRA

1. Before kick-off, the teams line up in the centre-circle and partake in a minute’s applause in remembrance of three England internationals past – Paul Mariner, Terry Cooper and Doug Holden – who passed away this year.

Then, on referee Anastasios Papapetrou’s whistle, the players take the knee to loud cheers inside Wembley. England continue to move forward in the right direction.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
HERE WE GO AT WEMBLEY!

HERE COME THE TEAMS!

The final strains of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and, subsequently, the summer fade out, and the Wembley crowd welcomes England for a new challenge.

Following the Greek officials on to the field, Jordan Henderson is back and in the role of captain. The Liverpool man leads a much-changed Three Lions out, followed swiftly by the Andorrans, and the two sets of players line up for the national anthems.

BUKAYO BOOST

England are back at Wembley for the first time since their penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final of the European Championship – and so too is Bukayo Saka.

The Arsenal youngster missed the decisive kick for the Three Lions in July’s final, but any concerns of a negative reception on his return have been allayed by a warm welcome from the England fans inside the stadium.

BAM THE MAN

Birthday box Patrick Bamford has been chatting ahead of his international debut. The striker has revealed that he always felt his chance would come with his country, and is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his Leeds United teammate Kalvin Phillips.

“It’s probably the best present I could have asked for.

“I’ve always believed in myself. There were times when I began to doubt it would happen but I kept believing and worked hard so I’m thankful that it’s here.

Patrick BamfordITV Sport

“[Kalvin Phillips is] England player of the year and he’s done fabulous. If I can do half of what he’s done, I”ll be very happy.

“[The manager has told me] just play my normal game, and to make sure I’m in the box and patient.”

HOME COMFORTS

England haven’t lost a home World Cup qualifier since their final game at the old Wembley Stadium, a 1-0 defeat to Germany that ended with Kevin Keegan resigning as manager in the toilets at full time.

It’s 21 years and 25 qualifiers since that damp and dismal afternoon, and the Three Lions have been busy making up for it. They have won 23 and drawn two of those matches since.

England have scored 71 goals in that time and have conceded on just 11 occasions.

BIRTHDAY BOYS

September 5th is a date to remember for Patrick Bamford.

Not only was the Leeds United born on this day back in 1993, he will now win his first international cap for England on the same date as his 28th birthday.

The striker has netted 18 goals in 41 appearances since his club were promoted back to the Premier League, and his reward is now the opportunity to lead the line for his country in a World Cup qualifier.

Let’s hope he has reason to celebrate this evening, which he will be able to do with another forward celebrating a birthday; Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is 20 today.

THREE LIONS ON A SHIRT

And three right-backs in the side.

Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all selected for this afternoon’s encounter.

ANDORRA SUBSTITUTES

12 Iker, 13 Pires, 2 C Martinez, 5 E Garcia, 6 Lima. 7 X Vieira, 11 Moreno, 16 A Martinez, 17 Cervos, 19 Fernandez, 21 M Garcia, 22 Bernat

ANDORRA XI

It’s seven changes for Andorra following the 2-0 home win over San Marino on Thursday. Christian Garcia and Chus Rubio slot into a back five while it’s a completely fresh midfield three; Marc Rebes comes in alongside 35-year-old Ludovic Clemente and 33-year-old Jordi Rubio. There’s even more experience up front as 36-year-old Marcio Vieira wins his 106th cap. He takes the captain’s armband and partner Aaron Sanchez at the top of a 5-3-2 shape.

1 Gomes; 18 T Rubio, 30 Llovera, 3 Vales, 14 Garcia, 15 San Nicolas; 23 J Rubio, 4 Rebes, 10 Clemente; 8 M Vieira, 9 Sanchez

ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES

13 Pope, 22 Pickford, 12 Walker, 14 Shaw, 15 Stones, 16 Maguire, 17 Rice, 18 Phillips, 19 Mount, 20 Kane, 21 Sterling, 22 Grealish

ENGLAND XI

Gareth Southgate makes the full 11 changes to his England team for today’s visit from Andorra. Sam Johnstone makes his first competitive start in goal while Patrick Bamford earns his first cap in attack. Three right-backs are included in the line-up although Kieran Trippier will play on the lift while Trent Alexander-Arnold shifts into midfield; Reece James is fortunate enough to remain in his customary role. Captain Jordan Henderson wins his 66th cap in midfield, and he’s likely to sit in the heart of England’s custom 4-3-3 formation.

1 Johnstone; 2 James, 6 Mings, 5 Coady, 3 Trippier; 7 Bellingham, 8 Henderson, 4 Alexander-Arnold; 10 Lingard, 9 Bamford, 11 Saka

THE TEAMSHEETS ARE IN!

SWEET SIXTEEN

England have won all four of their previous international matches against Andorra by an aggregate scoreline of 16-0 – although today will be the first meeting between the nations since Fabio Capello’s team racked up a 6-0 home win 12 years ago.

The Andorrans are one of only four international sides that England have faced as many as four times without conceding a single goal. They’re in good company with Estonia, Lithuania and Moldova.

• England 6-0 Andorra (June 2009)
• Andorra 0-2 England (Sept 2008)
• Andorra 0-3 England (March 2007)
• England 5-0 Andorra (Sept 2006)

THE WEMBLEY WAY

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of England’s World Cup Qualifier with Andorra.

Just fifty-six days on from penalty shootout heartbreak in the final of the European Championships, the Three Lions are back at Wembley and back on their pursuit of long-awaited tournament glory.

And Gareth Southgate’s team have already picked up in this international break where they left off in the summer, impressing on the pitch and displaying defiance in the face of discrimination.

Thursday’s 4-0 win in Hungary was as notable for how the players reacted after scoring, and it’s a result that has them top of the pile in Group I on a maximum 12 points from their four games so far.

With a trip to their nearest challengers, Poland, still on this week’s agenda, the England head coach is expected to rotate heavily here.

That should mean a chance for the likes of Conor Coady, Jude Bellingham and Reece James to impress, and there may even be a first cap for Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford.

We’re often told that there are no easy games in international football, but a visit from Andorra surely comes close.

The European minnows have lost 55 of their previous 57 away games in World Cup qualifiers, and still dine out on their stalemate with Macedonia back in 2005, and a more recent draw in Albania two years ago.

Quite simply, anything other than a comfortable England victory would be a shock so strap yourselves in.

Confirmation of today’s starting line-ups will be with us shortly ahead of the action that gets underway at the national stadium at 5pm.