England kept their World Cup qualifying campaign spotless, securing a seventh straight victory with a composed performance against Serbia at Wembley.
With qualification already achieved last month and two matches still remaining, Thomas Tuchel used this rainy London fixture to refine his tactical plans. The head coach handed a debut to Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly at left-back, but it was one of England’s most reliable performers who delivered the breakthrough.
Bukayo Saka struck after 28 minutes, guiding a superb left-footed volley past Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic to give the hosts the lead.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers was chosen ahead of Jude Bellingham in the No. 10 role, showing energy and creativity before making way for his childhood friend in the 65th minute. Moments later, Phil Foden joined the action, linking with Bellingham to set up Eberechi Eze for a beautifully curled finish that sealed the 2-0 victory.
Serbia threatened occasionally after the break, but Jordan Pickford extended his incredible run to 10 consecutive clean sheets, while England’s qualifying campaign now boasts 20 goals scored and none conceded.
“England’s depth is frightening — every substitution adds quality,” one fan commented online.
Tuchel’s Confidence Growing Ahead of the World Cup
Although the match lacked tension due to England’s early qualification, the performance gave Tuchel even more belief in his squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Seeing Bellingham, Foden, and Eze all arrive from the bench and immediately influence the game highlighted the strength in depth that England can rely on. Rogers, Marcus Rashford, and Elliot Anderson also played their roles, while Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton added valuable late minutes — his first since June 2024.
This qualifying campaign has been close to perfect for Tuchel, with momentum building exactly as planned before the final match in Albania on Sunday.
“Saka is nailed-on for the World Cup — he delivers every time,” one pundit observed.
Saka’s opener reaffirmed his status as a guaranteed selection, and Arsenal teammate Eze’s late strike wrapped up a confident display. Debutant O’Reilly impressed, and captain Harry Kane, despite not scoring, showed leadership and desire, even racing back to make a crucial defensive tackle.
Meanwhile, Pickford’s clean sheet record continues to grow, leaving England as the only side yet to concede in qualifying.
With so many positives, Tuchel can travel to Tirana full of confidence — and full of selection dilemmas most managers would envy.
Also Read: Saka Strengthens His Status as Kane’s Most Trusted Partner Under Tuchel