England Dominates Serbia with 5-0 Rout in World Cup Qualifier Showdown

Belgrade, 9 September 2025 — England continued their flawless World Cup qualifying campaign with a resounding 5-0 triumph over Serbia at the Crvena Zvezda Stadium, a performance that silenced critics and highlighted the depth of Tuchel’s squad. The Three Lions, who had faced scrutiny after a lackluster 1-0 win over Andorra earlier in the week, proved their critics wrong with a clinical display that saw them net five goals, including three first-ever senior strikes for Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi.

Fluent Performance Erases Doubts

Goals from Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, and a brace from the defensive duo of Konsa and Guehi, alongside Marcus Rashford’s late penalty, sealed a historic win for England. Tuchel, who had expressed concerns about Serbia’s cautious tactics, found his team effortlessly dismantling the hosts. The match turned in the second half when Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic was sent off in the 72nd minute, and England capitalized with a ruthless finish.

Three Newcomers Shine

The victory marked a milestone for three England players scoring their first international goals. Kane opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a towering header from Declan Rice’s corner, while Madueke doubled the lead moments later with a composed strike after a slick move involving Morgan Rogers. Konsa and Guehi added to the tally in the second half, with the latter’s close-range finish following a defensive error by Serbia’s goalkeeper.

Tuchel Praises Teamwork and Effort

England manager Thomas Tuchel lauded his team’s intensity and collective effort post-match, emphasizing the "invisible work" that underpinned their success. "We played with a lot of intensity and support in all positions," he said, noting that Serbia was kept to zero shots on target. The win extends England’s perfect record in World Cup qualifiers under Tuchel, a feat not seen since the 1950s, positioning them seven points clear at the top of Group K.

Key Moments and Player Ratings

England’s attacking fluidity was evident despite the absence of stars like Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham. Morgan Rogers, playing in a No 10 role, provided a pivotal flicked pass to set up Madueke’s goal. Player of the match Noni Madueke earned praise for his sharpness, while defenders Konsa and Guehi contributed crucial strikes. Rashford sealed the win with a penalty after a missed tackle by Serbia’s Djordje Petrovic, who also failed to stop a goalbound shot from Anthony Gordon.

With the return fixture against Serbia and upcoming matches in Latvia and Albania, Tuchel’s side now aims to maintain their 100% record in qualifying. The result also ended Serbia’s unbeaten streak at home in World Cup qualifiers, which had spanned two years.