England took a commanding step towards automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a resounding 5-0 victory over Serbia on Tuesday night. Captain Harry Kane once again led by example, scoring his 74th international goal to set the tone for what turned into a dominant performance in Belgrade.
The emphatic win not only avenged criticism following a sluggish 1-0 home victory over Andorra on Saturday but also marked the most convincing performance yet under head coach Thomas Tuchel. England now sits comfortably atop Group K with 15 points from five matches, seven ahead of second-placed Albania and with a clear path to sealing qualification next month.
Despite a cagey opening against a defensively set Serbia, Kane broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a powerful header from a Declan Rice corner. Minutes later, Noni Madueke doubled the lead with his first senior international goal, finishing off a clever flick from Morgan Rogers.
The second half saw England maintain complete control. Ezri Konsa, also opening his international account, tapped in from close range in the 52nd minute after a VAR check confirmed no foul in the buildup. Serbia’s hopes evaporated when Nikola Milenkovic was shown a red card in the 73rd minute for a reckless challenge on Kane.
From the resulting free kick, Rice delivered a pinpoint ball into the box that Marc Guehi converted with precision—yet another first-time scorer for England on the night. Substitute Marcus Rashford put the finishing touch on the rout with a late penalty after Ollie Watkins was fouled in the area.
“We had an excellent week from start to finish and we just proved what I saw every day in this camp,” Tuchel told ITV Sport after the match. “We played with a lot of intensity and it was teamwork in its purest form.”
Though England was always expected to top the group, doubts had lingered over the team’s progress since Tuchel took over from Gareth Southgate. Prior matches had lacked energy and clarity, but Tuesday’s performance delivered a clear message of intent.
Serbia, now third in the group with seven points and a game in hand, faces a tough road to secure even a playoff spot. Meanwhile, England marches confidently toward the 2026 World Cup finals, proving that when it clicks, this side can be devastating.
