England delivered the finest performance of head coach Thomas Tuchel’s reign as they took a giant stride towards World Cup qualification by outclassing Serbia in Belgrade.
In a game regarded as the toughest test Tuchel has faced since taking charge, England were superb from the start, this win meaning they now need five points from their final three games to reach next summer’s showpiece.
England took 33 minutes to make their domination count, the goal coming from the most familiar source as captain Harry Kane headed home Declan Rice’s corner for his 74th goal in 109 internationals.
Arsenal’s Noni Madueke scored his first England goal two minutes later with a pacy run and fine finish past Serbia goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, a moment which had Tuchel pumping his fists in delight in the technical area.
The game was stopped shortly after because Serbia fans were shining lasers at England’s Ezri Konsa.
The defender responded by ending any hope of a Serbia recovery seven minutes after the break when he scored at the far post, also his first England goal.
Serbia’s plight worsened when their captain, Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic, was sent off for a poor challenge on Kane, which left the striker requiring treatment.
The punishment was instant as Marc Guehi got on the end of the resulting free-kick from Rice to add England’s fourth goal with 15 minutes left.
It got even better for England in the final minute when substitute Marcus Rashford scored from the spot after Ollie Watkins was fouled by Strahinja Erakovic.
It completed Tuchel’s most satisfying night since he succeeded Gareth Southgate, the platform now solidly assembled for England to make a smooth passage to the World Cup.
Tuchel gets the England he predicted
Tuchel arrived in Belgrade insisting England were ready to improve and show their quality after the dour victories that have characterised their World Cup qualification campaign.
England fans voted with their feet towards the end of Saturday’s 2-0 win against Andorra at Villa Park, but this was a display to delight the band of supporters who traveled to Belgrade.
Tuchel’s side were on the money from the first whistle, the only surprise being it took them 33 minutes to break the deadlock.
And he will have been delighted by the contribution of Madueke, who now has five goal involvements in nine England appearances.
Morgan Rogers also impressed as he became a growing influence, his lovely touch playing a part in England’s second goal scored by Madueke, while substitute Djed Spence became the first Muslim to play for the senior men’s team.
England played with style and superiority, showing the levels Tuchel insisted they would, making a mockery of the threat most observers thought Serbia would provide.
Serbia barely got into England’s half, meaning it was also a landmark night for England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who kept his seventh clean sheet in a row. It equals his own and Gordon Banks’ record for clean sheets in consecutive appearances for England.
In pretty much every respect, this was the perfect night for Tuchel and England.
