England continued their flawless World Cup qualifying campaign with a seventh consecutive victory, defeating Serbia at Wembley Stadium. With qualification already secured, head coach Thomas Tuchel was able to experiment with his squad while maintaining control in a rain-soaked, low-pressure encounter.

Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze Shine

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute, courtesy of Bukayo Saka, who delivered a perfectly placed left-foot volley beyond Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. The Arsenal winger’s finish underlined his class and confirmed his status as a certain pick for the upcoming World Cup.

Later in the match, Tuchel’s substitutions highlighted England’s squad depth. Morgan Rogers, starting in the number 10 role ahead of Jude Bellingham, impressed with energy and intelligent play before being replaced at the 65-minute mark by Bellingham. At the same time, Phil Foden entered the fray and combined with Bellingham to set up Eberechi Eze for a stunning curling finish in the final minute, sealing England’s 2-0 victory.

Debutant Appearances and Squad Depth

Tuchel handed a first senior cap to Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly at left-back, who made an accomplished start in his international debut. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton also saw minutes as a late substitute, marking his first appearance for England since June 2024.

Even with several young and fringe players featuring, England’s performance showed no signs of vulnerability. Captain Harry Kane remained a commanding presence despite not scoring, contributing defensively with key interventions, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford extended his record run of clean sheets to 10. England have now scored 20 goals without reply throughout their qualifying campaign.

Tuchel’s Confidence Ahead of the World Cup

While the game lacked competitive tension, the match offered Tuchel valuable insight into his squad’s readiness for next summer’s World Cup in Albania. The performance demonstrated England’s depth, attacking versatility, and defensive solidity, giving the head coach confidence as he fine-tunes his final plans.

Saka’s opening goal and Eze’s late strike bookended a dominant performance, and the contributions from substitutes such as Bellingham, Foden, and Wharton emphasized the strength of England’s roster.

Tuchel will now prepare for the final qualifier against Albania, buoyed by the knowledge that his team remains unbeaten, has yet to concede a goal, and possesses the versatility to rotate effectively without compromising quality.

Player Ratings (England)

• Eberechi Eze: 7.50 – Decisive last-minute goal, creative influence.
• Bukayo Saka: 7.22 – Scored opener, constant attacking threat.
• Elliot Anderson: 7.07 – Energetic midfield display.
• Nico O’Reilly: 6.91 – Solid debut at left-back.
• Phil Foden: 6.77 – Assisted the winning goal, linked well with Bellingham.
• Jordan Pickford: 6.34 – Maintained clean sheet, crucial saves.
• Harry Kane: 6.29 – Defensive contribution and leadership.

Other notable contributors included Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Adam Wharton, and Declan Rice, all playing key roles in maintaining control and fluidity throughout the match.