09/06/2025

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MONDAY | JUNE 9, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Merab too good

- Story on page 29 Sour grapes? Uninspiring Lions England boss Tuchel fumes after laborious Andorra win - Story on page 30 ‘Spurs return not realistic’ - Story on page 28

E NGLAND boss Thomas Tuchel felt his side lacked “urgency and quality” as they laboured to a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra in Barcelona yesterday. Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about when he broke the deadlock early in the second half, turning in lively Noni Madueke’s cross, but the expected goals onslaught did not follow. “I am not happy with the performance, of course,” German coach Tuchel said on ITV1 . “We started quite well in the first 20-25 minutes, which was the only part where I had the feeling it was only a matter of time, we created a lot of half-chances and from set pieces, that we will score and keep on going. “But we lost completely the momentum and couldn’t get it back through the whole of the first half. “We got a little bit of it back in the first 15 minutes of the second half and then ended up in a period which was by far not good enough – lack of urgency, lack of quality and lack of energy.” England play a friendly against Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday night (Wed 2.45am Malaysian time) and Tuchel is expecting a much-improved display. “We can just admit it that it’s not what we expect from us and we need to do better,” the England boss added. “We need a bit of time to look at it in detail and address it clearly and directly to be better on Tuesday.” Tuchel was also not happy with how England finished the match. “We have to play until the 93rd minute. I didn’t like the lack of urgency in the end,” he said. “It did not match the occasion at all, it is still a qualifier away from home, I didn’t like it at all. “The players know all I said to you, because I said it in the dressing room, but it is also necessary to have a look in detail, watch the match again, and then we will let them know tomorrow what we want from them.” England captain Kane accepted it “wasn’t the greatest performance”. The Bayern

Munich forward added: “I don’t think many people will remember this one but we can learn from it. “It is very hot here, a dry pitch, probably similar conditions to maybe next year at the World Cup, so we will go away and analyse. “We had good spells in the game but we couldn’t have attack after attack. We take the three points and we move on.” England’s listless display did not sit well with former Republic of Ireland international Roy Keane, who offered a scathing post-match analysis after the Three Lions were booed off at halftime. was job done. “I was really disappointed with England’s attitude after the goal went in. The manager can’t be happy with that effort in the last half an hour. “I felt like some of the players looked like they got bored in the last half an hour and I don’t like to see that.” Ex-England defender Lee Dixon added: “They will be getting pelters no doubt about that. “When you are fourth (in the rankings) and they are 173rd you expect to beat them handsomely, but that wasn’t the case.” Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown agreed the performance was poor, but the priority was to get the job done in the bid for qualification to next year’s finals. “It was a big disappointment but they did the job and won the game,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “It could have been a lot more convincing in attacking positions. There is going to be criticism because of the team we were up against, but it is job done, move on to the next one.” – Express Newspapers/Agencies “We try and make excuses for England with the end of the season and it’s been tough on the players,” the former Manchester United midfielder said on ITV1 . “I thought the first half was okay but when they scored the goal it felt it

Andorra’s Max Llovera (left) in action with England’s Jude Bellingham. – REUTERSPIC

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