England smash Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade as Tuchel’s side stay perfect in World Cup qualifiers
England delivered a performance of brutal authority in Belgrade, dismantling Serbia 5-0 to keep their perfect World Cup qualifying record intact. For Thomas Tuchel, it felt like a defining night – the moment when his England project finally clicked.
The travelling supporters had demanded clarity after a sluggish start to his reign, and Tuchel’s players answered with swagger. From the opening whistle they imposed themselves, dominating possession, moving the ball with urgency, and exposing a Serbia side already under pressure at home.
Harry Kane opened the scoring with a trademark header, his 74th international goal, rising to meet Declan Rice’s outswinging corner. England had already threatened through Anthony Gordon and Rice himself, but once the captain struck there was no doubt about the outcome. Serbia, disorganised and hesitant, were swept aside.
The second goal was a work of art. Morgan Rogers, deployed ahead of Eberechi Eze in the No 10 role, justified Tuchel’s faith with a glorious assist. Taking a fizzed pass from Elliott Anderson, Rogers flicked a first-time through ball into Noni Madueke’s path. Madueke accelerated clear and produced a deft dink over Djordje Petrovic – the move of the night, perhaps of the qualifying campaign.
England’s dominance only grew. The third came when Gordon’s fierce drive was spilled by Petrovic. Marc Guéhi pounced to bundle the ball across goal and Ezri Konsa forced it home, marking his first international strike. Guéhi himself was outstanding at the back, his one-on-one defending flawless, his distribution crisp.
By this point, Serbia’s frustrations boiled over. Nikola Milenkovic’s reckless lunge on Kane earned a red card in the 72nd minute, further crippling a side already beaten. England smelled blood. From Rice’s free-kick, Guéhi darted in to score his own first England goal, and Marcus Rashford, on as a late substitute, calmly converted a penalty won by Ollie Watkins to complete the rout.
It could easily have been worse for the hosts. Rogers repeatedly tormented their defence, Gordon stretched them wide, and Kane’s movement caused chaos. England looked balanced and confident, every department functioning with ruthless precision. Tuchel’s instructions to be quicker and more direct had been heeded to the letter.
For Serbia, the night was a nightmare. Head coach Dragan Stojkovic faced boos from his own supporters, already angry at his political ties. By half-time the chants for his resignation were deafening. In the stands, tensions boiled as anti-government slogans rang out, a fight broke out among fans, and riot police intervened. UEFA had already closed 15% of the stadium as punishment for previous disorder; more sanctions now seem inevitable.
None of it distracted England, who managed the hostile atmosphere with icy calm. The Rajko Mitic Stadium is infamous for its long tunnel and intimidating noise, but once Tuchel’s side had silenced the crowd, the only soundtrack was the jubilant roar of the away section.
The statistics tell the story: five games, five wins, no goals conceded. With Kane spearheading, Rogers and Madueke dazzling, and Tuchel’s tactical blueprint finally bedding in, England look set for the World Cup with minimal fuss.
Afterwards, Tuchel beamed. He had spoken often about transferring the intensity of training sessions into matchday performances. In Belgrade, he got exactly that. This was not just a win, but a statement: England are not merely qualifying, they are evolving into genuine contenders