England continued their perfect record in World Cup qualifying after a victory over Serbia at Wembley made it seven competitive wins out of seven under Thomas Tuchel
Phil Foden during England's win at home to Serbia
Phil Foden during England's win at home to Serbia(Image: Getty Images)
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England made it a magnificent seven at Wembley and Phil Foden admitted: “The smile is back.”
Bukayo Saka, England’s magnificent No7, scored as the Three Lions made it seven straight wins and seven clean sheets in this World Cup qualifying campaign.
Supersub Foden also set up Eberechi Eze’s late clincher for his first goal involvement in 18 games in England’s last competitive game at Wembley before next summer’s World Cup. Foden, who came on with Jude Bellingham in a raft of second half changes, said: “It's amazing to be back. So happy to be back in the squad with these great players - I'm enjoying it. The smile is back!
“I thought I did well. I thought I created some chances. Overall, I have to be happy with the impact I did. I was happy to come on as a false nine kind of thing.
“Maybe that will get the best out of me. Only time will tell. As I said, I was happy to come on in that role. We managed to find some space into me. It was a great team performance. The quality players are all over the pitch.”
Arsenal star Saka said: “It was a performance we can be proud of, we got the win and we played well. It's been very successful, we've won every game and we want to keep building on.” England boss Thomas Tuchel praised the performance but admitted sometimes big nations take qualification for granted as he insisted he had no concerns about starting Morgan Rogers ahead of Bellingham.
Tuchel said: “It is normal, but he's one of the best mates of Jude, so I don't think he feels that kind of pressure. They compete at the moment for the same position and they're still friends. They are very respectful with each other and like each other.
Jude Bellingham during England vs Serbia
Jude Bellingham came on as a substitute for England
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“Morgan deserved to stay on the pitch because he had three fantastic performances with him and second of all we didn't know what was coming if our plan was right with the high press. It would be unfair for Jude to try figure everything out because we changed our way of pressing in the last two camps.
“Sometimes we do take it for granted - all the big nations do. It can be tough. I liked it. It was difficult – sometimes a bit too open, sometimes we had to defend with everything we had, sometimes we needed a bit of luck to force them to shoot wide.
"It is good if everything is not as easy - so we had to wait very long until the decisive goal. Then to make it safe. That is good for us - the effort was good. First half I was very happy with the first half. In the second half we didn't get the pressing always right.
"The game got a little too open because they escaped in a deep build-up against us and had fast attacks that we could completely control in the first half. Compliments to the back four. They had to work hard and be focused all the time. Serbia has individual qualities and is also a physical team. They came with a new energy, so well done."
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