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      Italy boss Luciano Spalletti boss anounces OWN sacking then storms out of press conference with Prem icon set to get job

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      ITALY coach Luciano Spalletti announced he has been SACKED – but won’t be able to leave his post until after tomorrow night’s World Cup qualifier with Moldova.Former Napoli boss Spalletti, 66, has had less than two years in the Azzurri job since replacing Roberto Mancini, storming off the stage as he cut short his final news conference at the helm.Luciano Spalletti revealed he has been sacked by ItalySpalletti stormed out of his pre-match press conference in FlorenceBut a last 16 exit in Euro 2024 saw him under threat and Friday’s 3-0 trouncing by Norway in their opening qualifier for the 2026 World Cup saw him given his marching orders by Italian FA boss Gabriele Gravina.Speaking in Milan ahead of the Moldova game, Spalleti explained: “Gravina has informed me that I will be relieved of my role as coach of the national team after the match against Moldova.“I’m sorry, I would have preferred to stay and try to change things. I have an excellent relationship with Gravina, but I take note of the dismissal due to the negative results.“So I will be on the bench against Moldova, then I will give the ok to terminate the contract. I owe it to the Federation that has always supported me, even when the results did not arrive.”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSSpalletti added: “What’s important is the new cycle for the national team. I say this without hypocrisy, jealousy or envy.“It hurts me that I was not able to bring out the best in all the players or expressed my football.“I am also disappointed with myself. With these results I know I have created problems for the Italian football movement and I am especially sorry for this.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“If anything, the criticism I received after the Norway match was far too understanding.”Most read in FootballClaudio Ranieri, 73, only left his role at Roma last month but is set to replace Spalletti, who urged his players: “I want to end with a great victory, not with the pain of the other night.Who could replace Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham manager?Claudio Ranieri is tipped to replace Spalletti after leaving Roma in May“I will speak to the boys and ask them for character. We have to go to the World Cup, even if it will be complicated.“We must not believe we are stronger than the others, it is something we have already paid for.“For me they are the right men. I would be happy if the new coach confirmed them, because it would mean that I did not make a mistake in choosing the players.“When I spoke with the managers of the various clubs I never had any problems, I always had the utmost availability and understanding. I never had any particular problems.“From my point of view, having worked in club football, I actually tried to spare some in some cases to avoid problems and controversies.“If then there are those who use subterfuges to avoid coming to the national team, from my point of view it is better that they never come again.”Italy fans edited a picture of Ranieri as a Roman emperorThat opened the door for a question over whether Spalletti felt “betrayed” by some players who had ducked his international calls.Briefly, he started to answer “Why should I feel betrayed?” before stopping himself, getting to his feet and walking out after just 24 minutes.Read More on The SunThe Azzurri have not appeared at a World Cup since 2014 after losing play-offs to Sweden (2018) and North Macedonia (2022) despite winning Euro 2021 at Wembley. Fans have begged Ranieri, who won the Premier League with Leicester before managing Chelsea and Fulham, to save the day.Ranieri shocked the world when he led Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 More

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      Andorra 0 England 1: Kane goal sees feeble Three Lions sneak win vs minnows to maintain 100% World Cup qualifying record

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      THOMAS Tuchel has warned England must prepare to suffer in the heat of next summer’s World Cup.And everyone is going to have to put up with the pain and boredom of watching them get there.Harry Kane’s goal was the difference maker for EnglandCredit: ReutersEngland maintained their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifyingCredit: GettyAgainst a tiny nation ranked 173 in the world, one of the supposed favourites for the 2026 tournament were heading for one of the most embarrassing results in their history.Like England predecessors Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello in 2007 and 2008, Tuchel watched an England team reach half-time goalless in an away game against Andorra in Barcelona.As in those previous matches, the Three Lions did enough to avoid humiliation. But only just.After already scoring in qualifiers against the mighty Albania and Latvia, captain Harry Kane extended his record by poaching the 72nd goal of his international career early in the second half.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd Tuchel’s team seemed content to come away with the smallest margin of victory in seven meetings with a country that has only won 14 games since being recognised by Fifa in 1996.If the 7,000 England fans who paid fortunes to come here – and those watching back home – felt short-changed, they should be under no illusions.There will be plenty more of the same in the rest of this qualification campaign and again at next year’s World Cup – because Tuchel will surely steer the team through as Group K winners.An expanded 48-nation tournament in 2026 means a greater number of lower quality teams who are likely to adopt the same (totally justified) approach as Andorra.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd not just in the group stage. With an extra knockout round, there will be more borefests of attack against defence which have to be endured by players and spectators alike.All in the suffocating heat of summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico.England star Ivan Toney hits back at Bruno Fernandes with blunt reply after Man Utd star’s Saudi transfer snubDespite Tuchel’s pre-match caution about expecting too much, the England boss cannot have been pleased with how his team performed. Not with better opponents and hotter conditions awaiting them.Tuchel lined England up in a formation that was basically 4-1-4-1, but with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones inverting from right back into midfield and Jude Bellingham sometimes finding himself alongside Kane in a 4-4-2.Jones had a goalbound effort blocked as early as the sixth minute.Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez is the son of head coach Koldo, himself a former No1 who was beaten 16 times in his four games against England.Alvarez Jnr was called into action by Noni Madueke, beating away the winger’s left-footed shot, and dad could be pretty happy with how his team was acquitting itself.He would have been less pleased when Reece James found Chelsea team-mate Madueke and his cross fizzed through the Andorra box.But Jones’s heavy touch and Kane’s poor shot wide let the minnows off the hook.And that was it for decent chances as England failed to move the ball quickly enough to pull disciplined opponents out of shape.A tedious 46 minutes ended to a chorus of boos from the England fans.Thomas Tuchel’s team were booed off the pitch at half-timeCredit: ReutersThey were soon feeling a bit more chipper.A fine pass by Jones allowed Kane to get off a shot that Alvarez saved, but Madueke collected the rebound and crossed for the captain to score from close range.Would England push on and try to achieve the convincing victory that Andorra substitute Marc Vales told SunSport was the kind of result that you would expect between two such mismatched teams?At the end of a long and tiring season – or not, in the case of those who must travel to the Club World Cup – that was always unlikely.Substitute Eberechi Eze forced Alvarez into a good save with a header and Madueke, who always kept trying to make things happen, came close in stoppage time.But there was little else to cheer for the travelling fans.England remained one moment of madness away from arguably the worst result in their history. It almost arrived when Andorran sub Guillaume Lopez found space and had a shot blocked by Ezri Konsa.All credit to Andorra, though, who also kept defending doggedly.Read More on The SunVictory for them was avoiding a heavy defeat. This was arguably their best day since beating Hungary in a World Cup qualifier in 2017. Maybe it was even better..All you could say for England was that they at least managed to come away from a no-win situation with three points.Kane got his toe on the end of a Noni Madueke cross to open the scoringCredit: Reuters More

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      ‘Absolutely, dreadfully embarrassing’ – England BOOED off pitch at half-time of painful Andorra World Cup qualifier

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      ENGLAND were booed off at half-time following their boring first-half display against Andorra.The Three Lions endured a toothless 45 minutes against a side ranked 153rd in the world, before labouring to a narrow 1-0 win.England were booed off at half-time following their boring first-half display against AndorraCredit: GettyJude Bellingham had three shots at goalInevitable boos rang out at the break with England failing to score in a near-empty stadium in Barcelona.Thomas Tuchel’s side couldn’t do much with their 73 per cent possession, 10 shots, eight corners and 17 crosses.Jude Bellingham, whose girlfriend was spotted in the stands, had three of England’s four shots on target.Fans were less than impressed with the display that they had witnessed after the whistle signalled the end of the first half.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe players were booed off the pitch by most of the 6,945 travelling supporters.As they made their way down the tunnel jeers from the stands could be heard.Captain Harry Kane went the closest and should’ve really put Tuchel’s men ahead before the interval after stabbing Noni Madueke’s low cross wide.Fans were just as unhappy on social media.Most read in FootballThe RDCE Stadium looked empty as England played AndorraCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOne posted: “Terrible. Looking like a Sunday league team.”A second fumed: “Any small enthusiasm I had left for football this year has just been killed by 45 minutes by England being absolutely, dreadfully s***’.England squad plays the Traitors A third simply put: “Embarrassing.”Another said: “Appalling 45 mins from England there, shockingly awful. No imagination at all.”But England finally managed to get their noses in front by the same pair that had the best chance of putting them ahead earlier in the game.Kane found the breakthrough, and his 72nd goal for the Three Lions, with a low finish from Madueke’s superb low cross across the six yard box.Meanwhile, Tuchel’s team selection raised some eyebrows. The German started Jordan Henderson in midfield next to Bellingham and put Reece James in LEFT-BACK.And Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones was bizarrely thrown in at right-back. More

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      Andorra vs England LIVE SCORE: Three Lions look to continue winning run in World Cup qualifier – latest updates

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      ENGLAND’S World Cup qualifier against Andorra is now UNDERWAY as Tuchel’s side look to build on their winning run.The Three Lions sit top of Group K after beating Albania and Latvia 2-0 and 3-0 respectively, back in March.Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the first time on foreign soil, but the clash won’t take place in Andorra.The World Cup qualifier will be staged at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, as Andorra’s national stadium is unavailable after the Games of the Small States of Europe.Tuchel’s men are looking to keep up their 100 per cent record as they face the lowest-ranked side in their group.TV channel: ITV1FREE live stream: ITVXAndorra team: Alvarez, Borra, San Nicolas, Llovera, Olivera, Garcia, Rodrigo, Guillen, Babot, Cervos, Fernandez.England team: Pickford, James, Konsa, Burn, Henderson, Bellingham, Jones, Rogers, Madueke, Palmer, Kane.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Andorra vs England4 – From midfield, Bellingham advances and attempts a pass to Madueke, but it is intercepted at the cost of a corner.First of the game. Copy linkCopiedAndorra vs England2 – After England kicked off, the whole Andorra team fell back to the outside of their own box. The defensive approach presented Bellingham the chance to have the game’s first chance, which he obliged, 20 yards out, straight at the home keeper. Copy linkCopiedKICKOFF – Andorra vs EnglandAnd we’re underway. England kicks us off from right to left in their traditional white kit. Copy linkCopiedAndorra vs EnglandThe teams are out of the tunnel, and the substitutes are on the bench. National anthems are all done. Scattered supporters across the Barcelona stadium join in for both team’s formalities. It’s almost time for kickoff! Copy linkCopiedWhy are England playing Andorra in Spain?Following the recent Games of the Small States of Europe, Andorra’s national stadium is not accessible.Rather, the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain will host England’s World Cup qualifying match versus Andorra on Saturday, June 7.The European regulatory body of football, Uefa, stated that there were no available stadiums in Andorra.Although the Andorran Football Federation constructed a new stadium in the Encamp neighbourhood, it was not ready to host this game before the Uefa deadline.More England supporters can go since Espanyol’s home stadium, the RCDE Stadium, can accommodate 40,000 spectators, more than ten times the 3,306 that can attend games at Andorra’s national stadium. Copy linkCopiedPre-match reading Includes Dave Kidd’s column on the state of international football for England and everyone else involvedCopy linkCopiedHow to watch the game for FREEOf course, we recommend you stay with SunSport’s coverage of the game tonight.But the clash will be available for free in the UK.The game will be shown live on ITV1, with a stream available on ITVX.Copy linkCopiedFast approachingThanks for the early take-off, Josh; I’ll drive us into our main spate of action now! England, two for two under Thomas Tuchel, will play minnows Andorra at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona tonight as they return to World Cup 2026 qualifying.The Three Lions have already taken the lead in Group K, while their “hosts,” who have lost both of their first games, are at the bottom of the standings.A portion of the offensive duty will go to Fernandez, given five-goal striker Albert Rosas Ubach’s absence. Given the significance of the three points, Tuchel’s team selection sparks question ahead of the friendly against Senegal on Tuesday. Ollie Watkins withdrew on Friday afternoon, hence his lack of involvement. For many of the England players, it is their last match of the season, and they hope to end it on a high note.Copy linkCopiedWhat the boss had to sayThomas Tuchel spoke on the importance of this game, saying: “It is a World Cup qualifier and we will not devalue it to an exhibition game.“It will be a very serious approach. It will be an offensive line-up and an attacking line-up.“We anticipate a match where we have the majority of the ball.“We are huge favourites. “We want to be fully committed to a World Cup qualifier.”Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedAbsentees We have already shared the team news but there were a few names who had previously withdrawn from the squad ahead of the clash.Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka and Conor Gallagher will all be absent.Tuchel has already confirmed he is not replacing Watkins in the squad, instead deciding to stick with Ivan Toney and Harry Kane as striker options.The German manager also said he will pick an “attacking line-up” and take a “very serious approach.”Credit: GettyCredit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedA double away dayTonight marks England’s first away trip under Thomas Tuchel… But it will also be an away day for Andorra with the match taking place at Espanyol’s home ground across the border in Barcelona, Spain.Tuchel is two from two at Wembley and will be confident of maintainig his perfect record tonight.Copy linkCopiedHow the group looksEngland currently top their qualifying group, while Andorra sit bottom with two losses from two games.Serbia are yet to play with zero points, so Andorra’s -4 goal difference sees them bottom of thegroup.England…6ptsAlbania…3ptsLatvia…3ptsSerbia…0ptsAndorra…0ptsCopy linkCopiedEngland’s road to the World CupIt has been so far so good for Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions in regard to their World Cup qualifiers.The Tuchel era kicked off at Wembley with a qualification clash, a 2-0 victory over Albania thanks to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane goals.The Three Lions then followed that up with another comfortable evening at Wembley.Reece James, Harry Kane and Eberechi Eze were the scorers as England won 3-0 against Latvia.After two games, they top the group with six points, and are the only side to have won all their matches in the group, although Serbia are yet to play any qualifiers.Copy linkCopiedEngland team confirmedAnd there we have it.The Engand starting XI is in… with starts for Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Morgan Rogers.England: Pickford, Jones, Konsa, Burn, James, Henderson, Jones, Rogers, Bellingham, Palmer, Kane, MaduekeCredit: X @EnglandCopy linkCopiedHendo for starters?Jordan Henderson could be handed his first England start since November 2023 against Andorra.The former Liverpool captain, now at Ajax, is set to be named in the starting XI for the World Cup qualifier at Espanyol’s stadium.Henderson,  34, has 83 caps, could start while Declan Rice is expected to be rested.Reece James could play out of position at left-back with midfielder Curtis Jones at right-back.Chelsea’s Noni Madueke may well start up front with Harry Kane and Cole Palmer.Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher has been left out of the matchday squad but could face Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday. Ollie Watkins is injured and has returned home. Bukayo Saka has a thigh problem but could also face Senegal.Credit: GettyCredit: PACredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedHello and welcomeThe club season may be over… or about to start again, who knows.But one thing we do know if that it is international week.And England have two fixtures.The first of those is a World Cup qualifier against Andorra, with kick-off in Barcelona at 5pm.Copy linkCopied More

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      ‘What a mess’ – England fans fume at Tuchel for bizarre experimental XI with Henderson picked over Rice vs Andorra

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      ENGLAND fans have been left less than impressed by Thomas Tuchel’s experimental starting lineup for the Three Lions clash with Andorra today.England take on Andorra in a World Cup qualifier at 5pm and Tuchel has decided to shake things up with an unusual XI.Thomas Tuchel has chosen to start Jordan Henderson against AndorraCredit: GettyHenderson will make his first start for England since November 2023Credit: GettyThe England boss has rested star midfielder Declan Rice in favour of Jordan Henderson from the off.Henderson, 34, makes his first start for the national team since November 2023.It’s thought that Rice is being rested with a view to starting against Senegal on Tuesday evening instead.Other unusual choices appear to include Reece James starting at left-back and Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones being deployed as a make-shift right-back.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAlthough, some have speculated that Jones could be playing in midfield with Tuchel opting to play a back three.Big names like Jordan Pickford, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer all start from the off too.While there’s starts of Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Morgan Rogers and Noni Madueke as well.Fans aren’t keen on the unusual lineup and took to social media to vent their frustrations.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOne wrote: “What a mess of an XI”.While another added: “It’s 2025 and Jordan Henderson is starting for England”.Roy Keane leaves Ian Wright laughing after ITV pundit’s joke about Thomas Tuchel following England’s win over Latvia A third fumed: “That is horrific”.And a fourth joked: “Can someone tell me the formation we’re playing? I’m confused. Who is playing in defence?”There’s no place in the starting lineup for Ivan Toney, who Tuchel has recalled to the England setup despite his controversial move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.While Bukayo Saka misses out on a place in the matchday squad entirely after struggling with an injury he suffered while with Arsenal.Saka is yet to feature under Tuchel after he withdrew from the German’s first camp with injury too.Speaking on Friday, Tuchel said of Saka: “He came into camp with a little bit of discomfort from the last match against Southampton, so we took care of him and treated him individually until today basically.“It was the first training session that he started and finished with the group. Yesterday, he started with the group but did not finish with the group, so let’s see.”I’m not sure if we take the risk for tomorrow’s game.Read More on The Sun”The decision has not been taken, but he will be available for the Senegal match, and he plays a major role in our thoughts how to build a competitive team.“I think just that he grew in his personality with every season that he played so consistently for his club, and the club grew with him and became so competitive.”Ivan Toney starts on the bench for EnglandCredit: PABukayo Saka is unavailable against Andorra through injuryCredit: Getty More

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      Bukayo Saka a serious doubt for England’s World Cup qualifier vs Andorra in blow to Thomas Tuchel’s plans

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      BUKAYO SAKA is struggling with an injury he picked up on the final day of the season for Arsenal.The winger could miss the World Cup qualifier against Andorra as he has only trained the last two days.Bukayo Saka is out of the England squad for the clash with AndorraCredit: GettyIt is a bitter blow to Thomas Tuchel’s plansCredit: GettySaka also missed Tuchel’s first England squad in March through injuryCredit: GettySaka returned at the end of the season after missing three months with a hamstring problem.Tuchel said: “Until that latest injury he was more or less always available, always playable every three days. “He had this consistency in his game and in his body, which made him very unique.“He was decisive for England, he took responsibility, he bounced back after a decisive and dramatic penalty miss (Euro 2020 final).READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“It’s nice to see that he’s back because he wanted to be back, and you straight away see when he comes in, he is comfortable to be with the squad.”He knows what it takes to be a national player.“He came into camp with a little bit of discomfort from the last match against Southampton, so we took care of him and treated him individually.“It was the first training session that he started and finished with the group today. Yesterday, he started with the group but did not finish with the group, so let’s see.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK“I’m not sure if we take the risk for this game. “The decision has not been taken, but he will be available for the Senegal match, and he plays a major role in our thoughts on how to build a competitive team.”How Lewis-Skelly could be Tuchel’s secret weapon for EnglandIn addition, Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins will play no part against Andorra or Senegal on Tuesday in Nottingham.The striker withdrew from Tuchel’s party as a precaution because of what the FA described as a “minor” issue.Tuchel said: “Ollie Watkins has a discomfort in his upper thigh or groin area in the muscle and we decided not to take any risks. “He will go home to continue treatment and we will not take any risks in case he gets an injury. It’s very minor.”Watkins was the top-scoring Englishman in the Premier League last season with 16 goals, one ahead of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.The Villa star scored the dramatic late winner in last summer’s European Championship semi-final against Holland.Read More on The SunWatkins’ withdrawal leaves Tuchel with captain Harry Kane and Saudi-based Ivan Toney as his two centre forwards.England do not intend to bring in a replacement and so will have 25 players for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra and Tuesday’s home friendly against Senegal.Ollie Watkins has also pulled out of the squadCredit: PA More

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      England stars are physically and mentally cream-crackered – surely life is too short for these Andorra and Senegal games

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      WHY do we need to put ourselves through this again?Why do England have to play Andorra at football, when the basic point of sitting down to watch any football match is to think: ‘I wonder who’s going to win this one’.Thomas Tuchel’s England squad play Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on SaturdayCredit: GettyWe already know that England will win. We know that Andorra are extremely unlikely to score. And it would be a significant surprise if Jordan Pickford has to make a single meaningful save.Surely your life is too short to tune in at 5pm on Saturday and watch this thing happen.This isn’t English arrogance. It’s not jingoistic or tub-thumping to point out that Andorra has a population of 80,000 – making it slightly bigger than the town of Bracknell but smaller than Weston-Super-Mare.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd therefore, England, with its 57 million people, will always beat it in a football match.Andorra is a lovely place in the Pyrenees, it’s good for skiing and the Andorrans are rightly proud of their tiny nation state.Not that they currently have a football stadium suitable to hold this World Cup qualifier, which is instead being staged at Espanyol’s home ground in Barcelona.But with players burnt-out, the calendar congested with fixtures and with a month-long Club World Cup about to start, does anyone need this thing – Andorra versus England – to be part of our lives?Most read in FootballEngland breezed past Andorra 4-0 in 2021Credit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOver the past 19 years, England have played Andorra six times and beaten them 5-0, 3-0, 2-0, 6-0, 4-0 and 5-0.The 3-0 in Barcelona was vaguely memorable because Steve McClaren, probably the silliest man ever to manage England, had a hissy fit and stormed out of the post-match press conference.England star Ivan Toney hits back at Bruno Fernandes with blunt reply after Man Utd star’s Saudi transfer snubBut, despite being at the majority of those matches, I can’t remember a single thing about any of the rest of them.So 4-0 to England will be roughly par, even though pretty much everyone will then say that 4-0 is not enough.There can be a certain sadistic pleasure in witnessing an absolute hiding – a nine or a ten – but that’s almost certainly not going to happen either.It is not that difficult for 11 fit young blokes of lower-tier EFL standard – which is Andorra’s level – to sit behind the ball in a packed defence, block shots for 90 minutes and keep the score down, especially if they are showing zero ambition of actually scoring.In almost 30 years as a recognised international football team, Andorra have never lost by more than 7-0. They aren’t that bad.In the past five years, they have beaten fellow minnows San Marino, Liechtenstein, St Kitts & Nevis and Grenada.Before that, Andorra defeated Moldova, Macedonia, Albania and Belarus – as well as their one genuine stand-out result, a 1-0 win over Hungary in 2017.The Nations League has been excellent for smaller nations, giving them regular competitive football against countries of a similar size and teams of similar ability.Andorra and other postage-stamp nations should not be entirely barred from World Cup qualifying – a pre-qualifying tournament, or Nations League results, could determine that one of them reaches the actual qualifying rounds.But surely something has to give in the fixture schedule. And if you’re looking for a place to start when cutting fixtures, then how about fixtures that nobody wants to watch and nobody wants to play in?England’s footballers are tired. Very wealthy, yes, but also physically and mentally cream-crackered.They don’t need to spend ten days of their lives preparing to play Andorra and then Senegal – who are, admittedly, half-decent – in a match at Nottingham next Tuesday which will mean absolutely nothing.I sincerely hope that you have something better to do at 5pm on Saturday than watching this match.Read More on The SunAnd also that you have something better to do on September 6, when, just three months from now, England will play Andorra yet again.At some point, we will all reach our deathbeds. And, please believe me, none of us will ever find ourselves staring into that ultimate abyss, wishing that we had spent more of our time watching England play Andorra at football.England’s players are knackered after a long seasonCredit: Getty More

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      England set to play World Cup qualifier in tiny stadium smaller than FIFTEEN League Two grounds

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      ENGLAND are set to play in a tiny 8,000-seater stadium when they visit Serbia in September. Thomas Tuchel’s men had been anticipating a fearsome atmosphere in Belgrade for the crucial World Cup qualifier. England will face Serbia at the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac – with a capacity of just 8,000Credit: GettyThe FA had assumed the notoriously noisy Rajko Mitic Stadium would host the clashCredit: ReutersRed Star’s hostile 53,000-capacity Rajko Mitic Stadium was expected to host the clash on September 9. But the Serbian Football Association appears set to host the Group K fixture away from the capital. A tiny stadium in the town of Leskovac has been earmarked for the game. The Dubocica Stadium is located around 170 miles south of Belgrade.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLWith a capacity of just 8,136, it is smaller than FIFTEEN grounds in League Two. The development is understood to have surprised some at the Football Association, per PA.Belgrade’s Rajko Mitic Stadium hosted big Nations League matches against Spain and Austria over the last year. The Three Lions began qualifying with routine wins against Albania and Latvia in March. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKEngland will next be in action away to Andorra on June 7.They are then due to play Senegal in a friendly on June 10 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.England squad plays the Traitors In a boost to the new England boss, Arsenal’s Ben White has confirmed his self-imposed international exile is over.White has not played for the Three Lions since leaving the team’s camp at the 2022 World Cup for “personal reasons.”White, 27, fit again after knee problems, said: “I’m definitely available.”I spoke to [Tuchel] a few times. He’s such a nice, nice man — very honest. I haven’t been back for too long.”So it’s just about playing now and hopefully making my way back in.” More