Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a flying start in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a brace in a 5-0 thrashing of Armenia on Saturday, as Thomas Tuchel’s England continued their unbeaten run with an unconvincing 2-0 win over Andorra.
Portugal’s match in Yerevan was steeped in emotion, coming just days after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in northern Spain. Both teams observed a minute’s silence before kickoff, with Joao Cancelo dedicating his goal to Jota by pointing to the skies in his trademark celebration.
Ronaldo, the 40-year-old talisman, struck twice—including a thunderous long-range effort—to extend his international tally to 140 goals. Joao Felix netted a double, while Cancelo added the other to secure Roberto Martinez’s men top spot in Group F. Defender Nuno Tavares said Ronaldo’s 21st-minute opener carried special meaning, as Jota wore the No. 21 shirt for Portugal.
“This shows he’s with us, that he was there. He’ll always be with us, as was clear today,” Tavares said. Ronaldo later posted on social media that this was the “first step” toward his bid to appear in a record sixth World Cup.
In Birmingham, England laboured to a 2-0 win over Andorra at Villa Park. An own goal from Christian Garcia and a header from Declan Rice ensured maximum points, but Tuchel’s men again looked uninspired going forward.
The German coach, who replaced Gareth Southgate last year, admitted frustration at the flat display, blaming part of it on the subdued atmosphere. “We had too many ball losses and lost focus after the first goal. In the second half, we improved, but we should have scored more,” Tuchel said.
England remain top of Group K with 12 points from four games but face their biggest test yet against Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday. The Serbs are second on seven points after edging Latvia 1-0 in Riga.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s European qualifiers also saw Austria host Cyprus and Bosnia-Herzegovina visit San Marino in Group H. Sixteen nations will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, with runners-up battling for the remaining spots through playoffs.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace underlined his enduring importance as Portugal began their qualifying campaign with an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota.
England, meanwhile, collected another win under Tuchel but continue to look unconvincing despite sitting top of their group. Their clash with Serbia could prove a defining test of Tuchel’s tenure.
