England produced their most convincing performance under Thomas Tuchel with a ruthless 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade that puts them within touching distance of the World Cup finals.
Tuchel had described this as his toughest test since replacing Gareth Southgate but his side were dominant from the outset and now require only five points from their final three qualifiers to seal their place at next summer’s tournament.
The breakthrough came after 33 minutes when Harry Kane rose to meet Declan Rice’s corner and headed in his 74th goal in 109 appearances for England. Arsenal winger Noni Madueke doubled the lead within two minutes, racing through and finishing smartly past Djordje Petrovic for his first international goal.
The match was briefly halted when Serbia supporters shone lasers at Ezri Konsa but the Aston Villa defender responded in style by turning in at the far post seven minutes after the restart. Serbia’s chances evaporated when captain Nikola Milenkovic was sent off for a reckless foul on Kane. From the resulting free kick Rice delivered again and Marc Guehi glanced home the fourth with 15 minutes remaining.
Substitute Marcus Rashford completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the final minute after Ollie Watkins was fouled by Strahinja Erakovic.
This was a night of milestones as Konsa and Guehi both struck their first England goals while Jordan Pickford recorded a seventh consecutive clean sheet, equalling the record held jointly with Gordon Banks. Tuchel also handed Djed Spence his debut, making him the first Muslim footballer to represent the senior men’s team.
Madueke’s display was another positive as he continued his fine form with five goal involvements in nine international outings. Morgan Rogers also impressed, playing a key role in Madueke’s strike.
The home crowd created a hostile atmosphere early on but England’s control quickly silenced the Rajko Mitic Stadium. Serbia barely threatened as England dictated possession and exposed their weaknesses with precision.
For Tuchel this was the most satisfying display of his tenure, a complete performance that showcased England’s quality and left their qualification path looking straightforward.