England v. Andorra: The History

England host Andorra on Wednesday 10 June in their final match of the 2008-09 season. The World Cup Qualifying match is England’s seventh of the campaign, the remaining three fixtures to be played in September and October next season.

Andorra played their first international in 1996 and are currently competing in only their sixth qualifying campaign.

The two teams will be meeting for the fourth time after being drawn together in the last two qualifying campaigns, the Euro 2008 Qualifiers and now the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers.

The match will be Andorra’s first at Wembley after facing England at Old Trafford on their only previous visit in September 2006 in what was the nations' first ever meeting.

England won 5-0 that day as they eased to victory in their first game of Euro 2008 Qualifying. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe both scored twice and Steven Gerrard also got on the score sheet to wrap up a convincing victory for Steve McClaren in his first competitive game in charge.

The return match was played six months later in Barcelona and was memorable for all the wrong reasons as the Three Lions were booed off at halftime by their own fans after failing to break down the part-timers in a goalless first half.

Two goals from Steven Gerrard and a debut-effort from Preston’s David Nugent eventually saw England run out 3-0, albeit laboured victors. This remains Nugent’s one and only appearance for England to date and also saw Andrew Johnson’s last start for his country, although the Fulham forward has appeared once as a substitute since.

The nations’ third and most recent match was played in September 2008 when England began their World Cup Qualifying campaign with an uninspired 2-0 win in Fabio Capello’s first competitive match in charge.

Like 18 months before England were held goalless at half-time and needed the introduction of Joe Cole and Emile Heskey to break down their opponents in the second half.

Joe Cole scored both goals, his ninth and tenth for the Three Lions, to make sure that England began the group with a win even if it was far from convincing. Four days later in Zagreb, however, and England truly showed what they were capable of under their new Italian manager.

England will look to consolidate their position at the head of Group 6 and will be hopeful of racking up a few goals in the process for the Wembley crowd in what will be the final match in a long season for many of England’s players.

England’s overall record vs. Andorra

P3        W3       D0        L0         F10       A0