England delivered a commanding performance in Belgrade, defeating Serbia 5-0 to maintain their perfect record under Thomas Tuchel. The win puts the visitors in firm control of their World Cup qualifying group, with five wins from five matches and no goals conceded.
Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a precise header from Declan Rice's corner, his 74th international goal. Noni Madueke doubled the lead before half-time, finishing a brilliant assist from Morgan Rogers, who flicked Elliot Anderson's pass into the winger's path. Madueke's dinked finish capped a flowing move that showcased England's attacking flair.
Defenders Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi added their first international goals in the second half, with Guéhi also impressing with his defensive work. Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score a late penalty, sealing the rout. Serbia were reduced to ten men after Nikola Milenkovic was sent off for a last-man foul on Kane in the 72nd minute.
The match was played against a backdrop of political tension, with home fans whistling the Serbian national anthem and chanting about Kosovo. A laser pointer was shone at England players, and a whistleblower attempted to disrupt play. Serbia had 15% of the stadium closed due to previous fan misconduct and face further sanctions.
Tuchel's side controlled the game from the start, moving the ball quickly and subduing the hostile crowd. Serbia offered little resistance, with only a handful of players featuring regularly in top European leagues. The result leaves England on the brink of qualification for the World Cup.
