England thumped 10-man Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade to take a giant leap towards 2026 World Cup qualification, with Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi all scoring their first goals for the Three Lions.
2026 World Cup qualification Europe
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Match Report
First-half goals from Harry Kane and Noni Madueke put England in control of the game as Tuchel's team produced a fluent performance that made a mockery of the criticism of their less than spectacular display in beating Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday.
Tuchel had feared Serbia's cautious setup could make for another awkward occasion but England opened up their opponents with ease, centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi adding second-half goals either side of Nikola Milenkovic's red card.
Marcus Rashford's penalty capped a huge victory to make it five wins from five in World Cup qualifying for England under their German coach. They have yet to concede a goal in those five games and are ideally placed to seal their spot at next summer's World Cup.
How England turned it on
Kane would have been frustrated to fail to find the net against Andorra having netted in his previous five appearances for his country, but he was back among the goals in the 33rd minute to nod in Declan Rice's right-wing corner. The second was a better move.
Morgan Rogers, who showcased his strength and skill in that No 10 role, having replaced Eberechi Eze for this game, produced a delightful flicked pass to send Madueke away and the in-form winger held off the challenge before lofting the ball over the goalkeeper.
Encouragingly, England maintained their momentum after the interval, despite Serbia taking a more aggressive approach, and any prospect of a comeback was ended when Djordje Petrovic failed to grasp Anthony Gordon's shot. Guehi to Konsa and a third goal.
Serbia had not even conceded in their previous three qualifying games and were unbeaten in the Marakana for two years. But that record was obliterated long before Milenkovic hacked down Kane, the Nottingham Forest defender receiving a straight red card.
That sapped Serbia even more, Guehi adding to their misery from close range before substitute Rashford capped it off from the spot. Referee Clement Turpin had missed the trip on Ollie Watkins first time around, but there were no reprieves for Serbia on the night.
For further context, England have not had a 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying since the 1950s, when there were only three matches. If they can see off Serbia in the return match as well as win in Latvia and Albania, then Tuchel will have achieved that feat.
No Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka or Jude Bellingham in those attacking midfield positions, but it was no problem in Belgrade. There is quality and there is depth. After the concerns that followed an uninspired start to his reign, it is back to keeping a lid on expectations…
Keane praise for Madueke
Sky Sports' Roy Keane speaking on ITV:
"That is what has impressed me over the last few months with him, his movement. Coming short, then spinning, mixing his game up. There is a real maturity. Obviously, then you are talking about end product but he is giving his team-mates options.
"His passing, his movement, he is a threat. We have said it before, he's affecting games. He is passing it and giving it. He is a nightmare to play against and that is what you want from your attacking players. It was only a matter of time before he got that chance."
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Madueke gets down in the box but with no appeals for a penalty
7' Rice has a shot from the edge of the box which is saved
22' James swings in a cross for Rice to head, which drops comfortably for goalkeeper
27' Gordon charges at the defence, cuts on to his right foot and shoots at goal
29' CLOSE! Madueke's shot is blocked and deflected to Kane, whose shot is wide
34' GOAL! Kane heads home from Rice's corner to open the scoring! Serbia 0-1 England
36' GOAL! Madueke doubles lead with his first international goal! Serbia 0-2 England
49' Match Event for Serbia vs England
54' GOAL! Konsa gets the rebound and slams it into the net! Serbia 0-3 England
63' Gordon slides a short pass to Rice, who curls an effort at goal but it's blocked
69' Reece James and Anthony Gordon are off and Rashford and Spence are on
72' Red Card! Milenkovic sent off
76' GOAL! Guehi flicks the ball into the net! Serbia 0-4 England
82' Watkins scores but it's ruled out for offside
90' Penalty Goal! Serbia 0-5 England (Rashford)
Line-ups
Serbia XI: A. Živković, Lukic, Maksimovic, Veljko Birmancevic, Vlahovic, Milenkovic, Ivan Ilić, Djordje Petrovic, Strahinja Erakovic, S. Pavlovic, Kosta Nedeljkovic
Subs: Gudelj, Katai, Kostic, Mitrovic, Veljkovic, Babic, Jovic, Uros Racic, Dragan Rosic, Lazar Samardžić, Nikola Stulic, Veljko Ilic
England XI: Kane, Pickford, Rice, Elliot Anderson, Ngoyo, Reece James, Guehi, Morgan Rogers, Gordon, Tino Livramento, Madueke
Subs: Henderson, Burn, Loftus-Cheek, Dean Henderson, Bowen, Ollie Watkins, Rashford, Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze, Spence, James Trafford, Quansah