Thomas Tuchel’s England Were ‘Back to Their Old Ways’ in Win over Andorra, Says Roy Keane

England secured a narrow 2-0 victory against Andorra in their first match of the 2025-26 campaign, but former Manchester United captain Roy Keane criticized the team for reverting to outdated playing styles. The match, held at Villa Park, was part of the World Cup qualifiers, with England aiming to build momentum after a lackluster performance in June.

Manager Thomas Tuchel selected a strong lineup against the 174th-ranked team, with England taking an early lead through an own goal from Andorra. Declan Rice then added a second. Despite the win, Keane pointed out that the team was largely unimpressive, struggling to break down disciplined defenses.

In his post-match analysis, Keane expressed frustration with England’s approach, highlighting a tendency to play sideways or backwards passes and lacking positivity in attack. He emphasized the need for more direct crossing and aggressive attacking plays.

Keane remarked, “I don’t think the manager is too happy at the end. They fell back into old habits, especially in the second half, with sideways and backward passing. They need to cross more and avoid overcomplicating the game.” He also noted that England’s goals came from crosses, reinforcing the importance of simple, effective attacking strategies.

He added that England should utilize their attacking talent more bravely, especially players like Reece James, who delivered a straightforward assist leading to one of the goals. Keane concluded that the team must adopt a more positive mindset when going forward to reach their potential.