England took another big step towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by beating Serbia 5-0 away in Belgrade. This result extended their winning streak in competitive matches to eight.
Although many expected Serbia to be England’s toughest challenge so far under manager Thomas Tuchel, the visitors started confidently, keeping good control of the ball. However, they struggled to create clear chances early on. It wasn’t until nearly 30 minutes in that Harry Kane came close, narrowly missing the target after a pass from Noni Madueke.
Kane didn’t have to wait long to score. Just five minutes later, he was left unmarked from a corner, and Declan Rice delivered a perfect ball for Kane to head into the far corner.
That goal gave England a lift, and they quickly added a second. After a slick move involving Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers, Madueke calmly chipped the ball over Serbian goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović to score his first goal for the national team.
Soon after the break, England got a third, this time in slightly lucky fashion. A long-range shot from Anthony Gordon was pushed away by Petrović, and the ball bounced off Marc Guéhi before falling kindly to Ezri Konsa, who tapped it in from close range.
With the game well in hand, Tuchel had the freedom to make changes and give more players a chance. Things got worse for Serbia when Nikola Milenković was sent off for bringing down Kane in a clear goal-scoring position.
From the free-kick that followed, Guéhi was left free at the back post and scored England’s fourth. Late in the game, Marcus Rashford made it 5-0 from the penalty spot, sealing an emphatic win.
England are now close to confirming their place at the World Cup, with the next round of qualifiers in October likely to settle it. Serbia, meanwhile, face a fight with Albania for second place and a spot in the play-offs.
Marc Guéhi was named man of the match for his solid performance and goal.
