England's Dominant 5-0 Victory in Serbia Sets Tone for World Cup Glory

In a commanding display under new manager Thomas Tuchel, England delivered a powerful statement by thrashing Serbia 5-0 in their World Cup qualifying match held in Belgrade. The victory marked England’s fifth consecutive win in the campaign, putting them seven points clear in Group K and well positioned for the 2026 World Cup qualification.

Captain Harry Kane opened the scoring with a precise header from a Declan Rice corner, marking his 74th goal for England. Minutes later, rising star Noni Madueke scored his first international goal following a smooth flick-on by Morgan Rogers, giving England a deserved 2-0 lead by halftime.

The second half saw England extend their dominance as Ezri Konsa capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Serbia’s Đorđe Petrović, and Serbia’s captain Nikola Milenković received a red card for a foul on Kane, reducing the hosts to ten men. Marc Guéhi then converted a free-kick from Rice, before substitute Marcus Rashford confidently scored a penalty after defender Strahinja Eraković fouled Ollie Watkins inside the box.

Post-match, Kane described the result as "almost as good as it gets," expressing confidence that this performance could be a template for future success and a stepping stone toward World Cup glory. The team’s cohesion and resilience were widely praised by commentators as symbols of England’s growing strength and unity under Tuchel’s guidance.

With this emphatic win in a traditionally difficult away fixture, England have sent a strong message to their World Cup rivals and fans alike that they are serious contenders for next summer's tournament in North America.