FODEN A SHINER Super Phil just too hot to handle as
PHIL FODEN was smoking hotter than the Estadi Nacional last night. After Friday’s fire torched thevar monitor, melted a dug-out and burned a TV gantry at the stadium, it was Foden’s turn to do some damage as England strolled to victory.
And the Manchester City star did not disappoint, lighting up this slow burner of a game to lead Gareth Southgate’s side one step closer to theworld Cup.
It was Ben Chilwell, Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham, James Ward-prowse and Jack Grealish who scored the goals.
But it was Foden who pulled the strings, and he simply must play a bigger role for Gareth Southgate in Qatar than he did at the Euros this summer.
Andorra’s only points in Group I so far came in 2-0 win over whipping boys San Marino last month.
That was one of only four competitive matches they have ever won in their whole history.
But England made hard work of beating them at Wembley, with three of their goals in a 4-0 win coming late on with help from some big guns off the bench to calm the nerves.
And after a 1-1 draw with Poland last time out, Southgate rang the changes for this game, making ten in all and handing the captaincy to Kieran Trippier.
It was a big night for the Atletico Madrid defender, only recently back from his betting ban, and a big honour.
And a big one, too, for Kateryna Monzul, who became the first woman to referee an England men’s match.
But the Three Lions didn’t actually manage a shot on target until the 17th minute, when Chilwell found the net from Jadon Sancho’s lay-off of a great Foden delivery.
It was initially ruled out for offside but after a lengthy check by VAR Stephanie Frappert, the goal was given.
It was Chilwell’s first England goal and his second in as many games for club and country after he struck in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Southampton.
And it will have done him the world of good after a tough summer when he lost his place in the England team and didn’t play a minute of the Euros.this will have really boosted him.
He was only a late call-up to this squad, too, coming in for injured Chelsea team-mate Reece James.
Saka then made it two with a blistering volley after some more great work from Foden, who ran the game for spells.
Arsenal star Saka made one and scored one when these teams last played and looks a player buzzing on confidence again after his Euro final penalty miss.
The same can’t be said for Sancho, who is struggling at Manchester United this season and even after playing a part in the opener he looked a shadow of usual self.
And by half-time England had only managed three shots on target despite having 89 per cent of the ball – a recurring problem for this team.
Another lovely Foden ball over the top almost brought a third in the second half, and the City forward pulled out plenty of tricks to go with his workrate too as he looked a class act.
At one point he sprinted 30 yards to recover a lost ball ahead of his marker and spun away from him with a lovely bit of skill.
He was running the show for Southgate and was clearly
England’s star man on the night.
No wonder Andorra resorted to bully boy tactics trying to get under England’s skin. Some of the challenges they put in were hair-raising stuff, and one or two England players were lucky not to have been seriously hurt.
But when Abraham made it three with over half an hour left, from a Sancho delivery, it was plain sailing for the Three Lions and there were more goals to come.
When substitute Grealish was felled in the box a penalty was awarded.
The spot kick byward-prowse was saved but he followed up to fire home the rebound.
Then Grealish got on the scoresheet himself as Andorra wilted in the final minutes.