Key Takeaways:
- England secured a resounding 5-0 away victory over Serbia in the sixth round of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers
- Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, and Marcus Rashford were all on target for England last night
- Serbia, who had not conceded in four matches before this fixture, conceded five goals and finished with ten men following Nikola Milenkovic’s red card on 72 minutes
Dominant Display Sees England Move Clear at the Top
England produced their most convincing performance to date under Thomas Tuchel’s stewardship, ruthlessly dispatching Serbia 5-0 as the away side in the sixth round of UEFA World Cup qualifying group action. This emphatic result marked their fifth successive victory and ensured they maintained a commanding position with 15 points at the summit of the group.
Match Timeline and Key Moments
After recent criticism regarding their lacklustre displays, the Three Lions set the tone early by controlling possession and threatening within the opening minutes. Declan Rice tested Djordje Petrovic as early as the fifth minute, while half-chances followed, sparked by mistakes from Elliott Anderson. Serbia gradually found stability midway through the first half but struggled to cope with England’s relentless pressure.
Five goals in Serbia to make it five wins from five in @FIFAWorldCup qualifying! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/YC5MsCzrsM
— England (@England) September 9, 2025
England broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Harry Kane powered home a header from Declan Rice’s expertly delivered corner. Just two minutes later, rapid interplay between Elliott Anderson and Morgan Rogers released Noni Madueke, who drove forward and finished with his left foot to double the lead.
Shortly after Madueke’s goal, referee Clément Turpin temporarily halted play in response to offensive and likely racist chants from the stands, issuing a warning to spectators.
Serbia’s manager Dragan Stojković responded at half-time, introducing Filip Kostić and Luka Jović and shifting Strahinja Pavlović to left-back in an attempt to contain England’s threat on the flank. However, England struck again in the 53rd minute. Anthony Gordon’s long-range effort was spilled by Petrovic, allowing Ezri Konsa to pounce and fire in the third goal.
Serbia’s challenge unravelled further in the 72nd minute when Nikola Milenkovic, captaining the side, was dismissed for a foul on Kane as the striker sought to break through on goal. With the hosts reduced to ten men, England capitalised just three minutes later: Declan Rice’s free-kick found Marc Guehi, who eluded Pavlović to slot home from close range.
Although substitutes Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins combined for what seemed to be a fifth goal in the 82nd minute, Watkins was ruled offside. Minutes later, Watkins went down in the box, Clément Turpin initially waved play on, but a VAR review resulted in a penalty. Marcus Rashford stepped up to confidently seal the 5-0 scoreline.
Statistical Overview
| Team | Goals Scored | Red Cards | Group Points | Consecutive Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 5 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| Serbia | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
Player Highlights and Tactical Insights
Harry Kane initiated the scoring and later won the free-kick that resulted in Marc Guehi’s goal. Noni Madueke’s pace and proved a continual problem for Serbia, especially in the first half. Defensively, both Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi were solid and they contributed with well-timed goals, underlining England’s set-piece threat.
Serbia, who had previously kept four consecutive clean sheets, struggled to contain England’s varied attacking angles and paid the price for defensive frailties, ending the encounter with a man down. The introduction of Kostić and Jović did little to reverse momentum, with the hosts managing few clear opportunities.
Qualification Group Outlook
With 15 points secured from five matches, England remain firmly at the top of their World Cup qualifying group. Serbia, meanwhile, have slipped to third place after their heavy defeat.
