England maintained their flawless World Cup qualifying record with a composed 2–0 victory over Serbia at Wembley, securing a seventh straight win without conceding a single goal.
On a rainy London night, Thomas Tuchel used the already-secured qualification to refine his squad further. Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly made his senior debut at left-back, while Morgan Rogers started ahead of Jude Bellingham in the No. 10 role.
Saka Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough came after 28 minutes when Bukayo Saka produced a brilliant left-footed volley, steering the ball past Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic to put England ahead.
Rogers offered energy and creativity in midfield before being replaced in the 65th minute—along with Phil Foden—by his close friend Bellingham. The shift in personnel added fresh momentum to England’s attack.
Eze Seals the Win with Late Stunner
In the final minute, Eberechi Eze capped the evening with a superb curling finish on the counter-attack. The goal was the result of a slick move involving both Bellingham and Foden, underlining the depth at Tuchel’s disposal.
Serbia threatened sporadically, but Jordan Pickford remained largely untroubled as he extended his remarkable run to 10 consecutive clean sheets. England have now scored 20 goals without reply during their qualifying campaign.
Tuchel’s Growing Confidence Ahead of the World Cup
Although the match lacked tension with qualification already secured, Tuchel will have been encouraged by the strength of his squad options. The combination of Bellingham, Foden and Eze from the bench illustrated England’s attacking power, while debutant O’Reilly delivered an assured performance.
Marcus Rashford, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton—who earned his first England minutes since June 2024—also contributed to a well-managed performance.
Captain Harry Kane, despite not scoring, showed his commitment with a vital defensive tackle late in the match, demonstrating his enduring leadership and work rate.
Pickford’s consistency, Saka’s clinical finish, and Eze’s stylish late strike provided further evidence that England are gathering momentum at exactly the right time.
England now travel to Tirana for their final qualifier against Albania, with Tuchel’s side full of confidence and still boasting a perfect defensive record.
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