Talking Tactics: How England's lesser lights stole the show in Andorra

Jack Grealish broke his England duck at the 16th attempt as the Three Lions thrashed minnows Andorra 5-0.

Often criticised for not playing free-flowing attacking football, Gareth Southgate’s side put that to bed with 86% possession.

It is the second time England have won 5-0 in their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign and they sit top of Group I — four points ahead of Albania.

We analyse where the game was won after the victory for Gareth Southgate's side.

Assured Sancho

The game would have restored some of Jadon Sancho's confidence following a difficult start to the season for the Manchester United winger.

Southgate made no secret of the fact that Sancho was fortunate to be called up to this England squad.

He is yet to score or assist for the Red Devils since joining from Borussia Dortmund in a £73million deal.

But the winger had no such problem in the win over Andorra, recording two assists and causing the full-back a constant headache.

No one could better his four key passes and Sancho was level with Phil Foden on five attempted take-ons — more than anyone else on the field. 

Tammy time

Tammy Abraham also had a night to remember as he scored his first goal for the Three Lions since November 2019 in a 7-0 rout of Montenegro.

The striker tumbled down the England pecking order as he fell out of favour under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea — missing out on a place in Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.

Abraham left Chelsea in the summer and has not looked back. His Roman redemption has led to four goals in his first 10 games under Jose Mourinho at Roma.

His performances have earned a recall and Abraham grasped his chance in the win with both hands, netting England’s third goal from inside the six-yard box.

With Harry Kane suffering domestically with Tottenham, Abraham has a chance to force his way into contention.

Clean sheet kings

Southgate’s side once again proved why they are famed for having one of the meanest defences on the continent as they kept another clean sheet.

It was their assertiveness from the back which inspired England to the final of the Euros, conceding just two goals in the entire tournament.

This was the Three Lions’ 10th clean sheet in their last 13 games, and they have shipped just two goals so far in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Jack in the box

Despite playing fewer than 20 minutes, Grealish more than left his mark on the tie.

Five minutes after coming on Grealish proved why he is a defender’s nightmare after he was brought down in the Andorran penalty area.

Seven minutes later, Three Lions keeper Sam Johnstone played a quarterback-esque ball into Grealish’s path and the City midfielder carried it to the edge of the area before finishing for his first England goal.

He said: "It has been a long time coming and it's about time that I scored because everyone has been saying it to me. I think that is 16 games now. It was coming and I'm just delighted that I've got off the mark. 

"I want to be starting games, to be starting the biggest of games and keep playing for England. Luckily over the past few months and during the Euros I've had the chance to do that.

"In the back of my mind there has been that feeling that I've just wanted to score, just to get off the mark. Obviously, I've done that tonight, I'm delighted and it's a night I won't forget."

Regista role

Ward-Prowse could have considered himself extremely unlucky to have missed out on Southgate’s 26-man Euros squad.

After another stellar campaign for Southampton, the midfielder was included in the provisional 33-man squad — but was left out of the final cut.

With a point to prove, Ward-Prowse put in an impressive display in a less than familiar role.

The Saints skipper played in the regista role — made famous by Andrea Pirlo — and displayed his credentials as a deep-lying playmaker. 

He controlled possession, picking out the forward players as the Three Lions attacked wave-after-wave. Only Ben Chilwell (84) and Conor Coady (81) finished with more accurate passes than the Saints captain (79).