Serbia 0-5 England (Kane 33’, Madueke 35’, Konsa 52′, Guehi 75′, Rashford 90′ pen)
RAJKO MITIC STADIUM — Excitement at last. Two goals in two minutes, five in total on the road, took England from “dire oh dire” to “we’re gonna with the cup”. Thomas Tuchel will take it after five unimaginative splodges.
What looked like an awkward assignment proved refreshingly straightforward with England freeing themselves from the strange pallor that had hung about Tuchel’s reign as head coach.
Goals not only win matches, they change the mood. Cries of “easy, easy” rang about the England paddock following Ezri Konsa’s third early in the second half. What were we worried about? England fizzed the ball about with more urgency and purpose, and Tuchel’s changes were at the heart of it.
The Morgan Rogers we saw tearing it up for Aston Villa last term was back at the centre of things, adding the dynamic quality in the 10 position that Tuchel was seeking. Anthony Gordon was no slouch either, bringing the energy that Marcus Rashford could not on the left.
England striker #15 Morgan Rogers (L) and defender #05 Ezri Konsa celebrate after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group K football match between Serbia and England, at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade, on September 9, 2025. (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC / AFP) (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images)
Morgan Rogers (L) was brilliant for England (Photo: AFP)
There is still a balance issue down England’s left side in the absence of a naturally left-footed player offering genuine width. This was felt during the mundane opening phase when everything went right.
Serbia did not mount an attack in the opening 15 minutes and then only as the result of a mis-hit pass. The first bright moment of the match came when Gordon managed to wriggle past a defender, cut back on to his right and hit the keeper with a stinging shot.
Suitably stirred England came again, a brilliant pass straight up the middle by Marc Guehi into the feet of Rogers who spun his defender to free Noni Madueke. This was actual excitement. Madueke found Harry Kane, who tapped the ball wide of an onrushing Djordje Petrovic in goal.
The England captain should really have scored. No matter he made amends within minutes nodding home from a corner. This was the prelude to a move of pace and panache, again involving Rogers, with a delightful flick, and finished with a flourish by the galloping Madueke.
England will have to beat better teams than Serbia at the World Cup next summer, but at least the negative swirl that was beginning to claim Tuchel has lifted. To take a further step the German needs to address the left hand side.
The inclusion of both Gordon and Tino Livramento might have met the vogue for right-footed players down the left, but it inevitably shifted the ball rightwards towards to the ever willing Madueke.
His ability to hug the right made him the man of the match as well as the principal outlet for the midfield.
It takes fixtures like this to remind us how revered are England in the football firmament. While the English commentary is flush with angst about the quality, style and direction of the team under Tuchel, Serbia see only big brand players, the Premier League, history and tradition. It counts for more than we imagine and for once England harnessed their big team energy.
England were rampant, helped by the red card handed out to Nikola Milenkovic for upending Kane. As the last defender he had to go. He was stretched by another lightning break that made best use of Kane powering through the channels. The idea that Kane might be slowing is not one shared by Milenkovic.
Your next read
Guehi added a fourth from the free-kick, getting ahead of his marker to tap home. Petrovic made two fine saves to deny substitute Rashford and Declan Rice before Rashford eventually added the fifth from the spot after Ollie Watkins, on for Kane, was brought down.
Tuchel will now get to experience the other side of managing England, insane expectation that comes with a statement win. This was better, a sign of what this team is capable once it gets out of its own way.
The England fans were asked to stay behind at the end of the game for security reasons. They would have been happy to stay all night, happy and glorious.