England fans target Keir Starmer with abusive chants as Three Lions scrape past Andorra 2-0 at Villa Park

England secured a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday but sections of the home support were heard directing abusive chants at Prime Minister Keir Starmer and vendors outside the ground were seen selling Union Jack flags emblazoned with the slogan "stop the boats".

The result moved Thomas Tuchel’s side closer to next summer’s tournament in North America, Mexico and Canada, but attention after the match focused on crowd behaviour and an underwhelming performance against the FIFA-ranked 174th side. England opened the scoring when Andorra defender Christian Garcia headed Noni Madueke’s cross into his own net in the 25th minute and Declan Rice doubled the lead in the second half with a header from a Reece James cross.

Supporters in the Holte End were heard chanting words aimed at the prime minister to the tune of The White Stripes’ "Seven Nation Army." Reports and video circulating from the stadium showed the chant with the offensive word masked in some coverage; similar chants were reported during the reverse fixture between the two nations in June. Outside Villa Park, vendors were observed selling Union Jack flags bearing the phrase "stop the boats," a reference to the ongoing migrant crisis.

Coldplay concerts at Wembley meant the fixture was moved from England’s usual home, a factor Tuchel cited after the match. The England manager described the environment at Villa Park as different to a typical Premier League match and said the crowd made aspects of the game more difficult for his players. Observers at the stadium described a subdued atmosphere, with one journalist saying there were long periods when noise level was minimal.

Tuchel named a strong starting XI that included four Arsenal players and a surprise debut for Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, who earned his first cap. Marcus Rashford received his first call-up since March 2024 and started on the right wing. Despite the selection, several former players and pundits criticised England’s performance, saying the side again struggled to break down Andorra’s disciplined low block and failed to capitalise on sustained possession.

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said the team had reverted "to their old ways" and suggested Tuchel would have been frustrated with how England failed to turn dominance into a more convincing scoreline. Player assessments from the match noted a number of individuals looked rusty or inconsistent, while others produced assured displays in a largely tepid attacking display.

England will return to action on Tuesday with an away qualifier against Serbia. The win keeps them on course in qualifying but leaves questions over Tuchel’s approach against deep defensive teams and the effect of irregular venues on England’s rhythm.

Match statistics underlined England’s control of possession but also their difficulty in creating clear-cut chances against a compact Andorran side. The scoreline came courtesy of an own goal and Rice’s header rather than sustained attacking fluency. With qualifiers continuing and a major tournament next summer, England’s focus will be on converting possession and squad selection into more authoritative performances while officials and the Football Association may consider the public order and reputational implications of political chants and merchandise at international fixtures.