Summary

Reaction to England 2-0 Serbia

  1. 'It's about building a team'published at 08:40 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    Media caption,

    England 2-0 Serbia:- It's about building a team - Tuchel

    England manager Thomas Tuchel addressed the challenge of managing so much top-level talent in his post-match press conference, admitting that his job is not simply to build a starting XI, but to build a cohesive team, and that competition for places is exactly what he wants.

  2. Postpublished at 08:38 GMT

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    Phwoar, that is some statement Tom.

    You're lucky folk can't bookmark things on here but I do love the optimism.

    Let's hear some final words from the boss now before seeing what Thursday night's goal scorers had to say.

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    Get Involved - 'Most confident I have been heading into a World Cup'published at 08:34 GMT

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    Solid performance last night. Always going to be tough when we've already qualified and Serbia needed a result, but no real scares in there. Very confident Tuchel is the right man for the job. The most confident I have been heading into a World Cup in my lifetime.

    Tom, Derby

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    Get Involved - 'You can tell Tuchel cares and has a plan'published at 08:30 GMT

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    People who criticise Tuchel just don't like the idea of a foreigner in charge of England. You can tell he cares and has a plan unlike every previous English England manager who were there to just pick the 11 best players on paper and hope they won.

    Matt, Leeds

  5. 'Foden an option to share minutes with Kane'published at 08:26 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking about Phil Foden being used as a false-9: "He was excellent. You can see he is full of confidence. He showed it.

    "I like to have him in centre of pitch in close connection with other players. He did well. It is a big ask to challenge Harry [Kane] at the moment. He is in the shape of his life. But to be an accomplice and share some minutes, then he is an option.

    "You can see he is full of confidence. You can see it in the first minutes when you meet him. You feel he is light and he is smiling. His movements are a joy to watch, you can see he is competitive."

    He added: "Phil is in good shape and Phil can make any team better in an offensive position.

    "In a central position that is my belief and my trust - he is all smiles. He is full of confidence and you see it in the first touches and the movement."

    Phil Foden is given instructions by manager Thomas Tuchel before being brought on as a substitute.Image source, Getty Images
  6. 'Against stronger opposition England could have conceded'published at 08:20 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    Phil Jones
    Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think it was a dominant performance without it being a vintage England performance.

    England created quite a few chances on a number of occasions.

    I do think there was a 15 minute spell where Serbia had a a couple of chances and against stronger opposition England could have conceded a goal.

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    Get Involved - 'Things are looking promising'published at 08:16 GMT

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    Keep hearing we can't break down stubborn defences. Serbia are notorious for their stubborn defence. And we've put 7 past them in 2 games... Things are looking promising!

    Ed, Jersey

  8. 'Rogers deserved to stay on the pitch'published at 08:12 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    England

    England boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Morgan Rogers starting over Jude Bellingham: "It is normal, but he's one of the best mates of Jude, so I don't think he feels that kind of pressure.

    "They compete at the moment for the same position and they're still friends. They are very respectful with each other and like each other. Morgan deserved to stay on the pitch because he had three fantastic performances with him and second of all we didn't know what was coming if our plan was right with the high press.

    "It would be unfair for Jude to try figure everything out because we changed our way of pressing in the last two camps. Declan [Rice], Morgan [Rogers] and Harry [Kane] did it already in three-four matches together.

    "I figured they could adapt a bit quicker. Once we see the formation we can give clear instructions to Phil and Jude and bring them from the bench."

    Morgan Rogers in action for England against Serbia.Image source, Getty Images
  9. 'It was never going to be easy for England'published at 08:07 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    Paul Robinson
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It was a performance from a team that was shuffled about.

    England are playing against tough opposition. Serbia have only lost three of their last 27 World Cup qualifiers away from home.

    It was always going to be a tough ask - they're a team who are wounded by England's 5-0 win in Serbia.

    It was never going to be easy for England.

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    Get Involved - 'Wharton/Anderson partnership?'published at 08:03 GMT

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    Brilliant performance, how about we try a Wharton/Anderson partnership!

    Josh, Nottinghamshire

  11. 'It is not about building a starting eleven, it is about building a team'published at 07:57 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    England

    England boss Thomas Tuchel on the impact of his substitutes: "We had good impact from bench straight away. We brought on quality players and they wanted to show what they could do. They created chances, half chances and scored in the end. You could see the impact and it has to stay like this.

    "It is not about building starting eleven. It is about building a team and they buy into it. Put ego behind them because it is the right thing to do for the team."

  12. 'The game got a little too open'published at 07:52 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    England

    England boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Yes, I liked it [the performance]. It was difficult – sometimes a bit too open, sometimes we had to defend with everything we had, sometimes we needed a bit of luck to force them to shoot wide.

    "It is good if everything is not as easy - so we had to wait very long until the decisive goal. Then to make it safe. That is good for us - the effort was good. First half I was very happy with the first half. In the second half we didn't get the pressing always right.

    "The game got a little too open because they escaped in a deep build-up against us and had fast attacks that we could completely control in the first half.

    "Compliments to the back four. They had to work hard and be focused all the time. Serbia has individual qualities and is also a physical team. They came with a new energy, so well done."

    Thomas Tuchel gestures with his arms during England's match against Serbia.Image source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 07:50 GMT

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    Lovely assist, Jeremy. Let's hear from the England boss now...

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    Get Involved - 'Tuchel is the right man for the job'published at 07:48 GMT

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    England did well to beat a well organised, physical and stubborn side in awful conditions. It wasn’t pretty, but they won. I think Tuchel is the right man for the job.

    Jeremy, Scotland

  15. England players rated - Substitutespublished at 07:43 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    Alex Howell
    BBC Sport football reporter

    • Eberechi Eze: Came on as one of four changes. Showed in flashes why he is so highly rated with some of his trademark dribbling. Finished the game off with an excellent curled striker into the top corner. 7
    • Phil Foden: Just as Tuchel hinted, Foden came on as a striker when he replaced Kane. Went looking for the ball and always makes the crowd excited when he gets it. A late assist when he set up Eze on a counter-attack 7
    • Jude Bellingham: The Real Madrid midfielder was involved in one particularly good move when he combined with James, as England looked to add to the score. 6
    • Jordan Henderson: Came on and took the armband. Played deeper next to Anderson as England completed the job. 6
    • Adam Wharton: Came on late, had little time to prove himself. N/A
    The back of Eberechi Eze which displays his number 19 on his England shirtImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - 'Tuchel still needs a plan B'published at 07:40 GMT

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    Job done but we need to up the intensity. We are still struggling to break down teams who park the bus. Better teams would have punished us last night. Play friendlies against better quality opposition, then we'll see how far we've really progressed. He still has time, but TT still needs to work out his Plan B.

    Daniel, Isle of Wight

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    Get Involved - 'Impressed by Anderson'published at 07:35 GMT

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    I was impressed by Elliot Anderson, I thought he was neat with his play and really ignited energy in the middle for us; Harry Kane also played well when dropping into the midfield to provide an extra man here and there, he looked very sharp.

    Toby, Harpenden

  18. Who offered a spark? - England players ratedpublished at 07:31 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    Alex Howell
    BBC Sport football reporter

    • Jordan Pickford: England's number one did not have a meaningful save to make. 6
    • Reece James: As England dominated the game, James spent most of the time in attacking positions and was not up against much going towards his own goal. One of Thomas Tuchel's favourites and looks to be England's first-choice right-back. 6
    • Ezri Konsa: Just like the rest of the England back four, it was an easy night for Konsa. Good on the ball and kept it moving as he started attacks from the back. Only one counter-attack looked to cause him trouble. 6
    • John Stones: The Manchester City defender stepped into midfield when Serbia did not put him under pressure. Looks to be building a nice partnership with Konsa. Not much to deal with defensively. 6
    • Nico O'Reilly: A very comfortable first cap for O'Reilly. Took the ball in good areas and went into midfield from left-back, as he does for his club side Manchester City. His shot in the first half created England's opening goal and he almost added to the score when his deflected cross nearly went in. The 20-year-old has a chance to make a late push to be England's starting left-back at the World Cup. 7
    • Elliot Anderson: The Nottingham Forest midfielder has made the base of midfield position his own. He's a near certainty to start for England at the World Cup. Another assured performance. 7
    • Declan Rice: A quieter night for Declan Rice but he still showed his running power. His delivery from corners and free-kicks are of the highest quality and means he can always be a threat for England. 6
    • Morgan Rogers: Excellent play from Rogers to start an attack in the first half when he combined with Bukayo Saka, beating a defender and spraying an excellent pass to Rashford. Almost on target with an instinctive flicked header. 7
    • Marcus Rashford: A couple of exciting runs and curling efforts well saved. It wasn't England's best night but Rashford offered a spark at times. Nice skill in the first half when he put the ball through a defender's legs to get the crowd off their feet. 7
    • Bukayo Saka: Scored an excellent first-half goal when he volleyed in the rebound off O'Reilly's shot. Building a nice partnership with Reece James down the right-hand side for England. Had another half-chance in the first half but curled wide. 7
    • Harry Kane: The England captain dropped deep to get on the ball as England struggled to break down the stubborn Serbia defence. A couple of excellent passes to start attacks. Missed a good chance with a header in the first half. 6
  19. England analysis: Tuchel's confidence will growpublished at 07:25 GMT

    England 2-0 Serbia

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    It was inevitable that England's meeting with Serbia would lack a sense of jeopardy with World Cup qualification assured, but Thomas Tuchel will still have been left with increasing confidence about the forthcoming World Cup following this win.

    The sight of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden emerging from the bench after 65 minutes, along with goalscoring substitute Eberechi Eze, was another demonstration of the depth of talent at Tuchel's disposal as he shapes his final World Cup plans.

    Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford and Elliot Anderson had all made their contributions, while Crystal Palace's outstanding young midfielder Adam Wharton, on as a late substitute, finally got more minutes for England for the first time since June 2024.

    This has been a hugely satisfying qualifying campaign for Tuchel and England, gathering momentum exactly as he would have wished before the final qualifier in Albania on Sunday.

    Saka once again showed the class that makes him a certain World Cup pick with a spectacular finish to open the scoring, with Arsenal team-mate Eze also providing a stylish final flourish to erase any doubts about the result.

    Debutant O'Reilly made an accomplished start while, at the other end of the scale, captain Harry Kane may not have got on the scoresheet but showed his hunger still burns, even producing a tackle on the edge of his own area to snuff out a rare Serbian threat.

    And in goal, Pickford continues to set records with another shutout, meaning England have still to concede a goal in qualifying.

    All in all, Tuchel can head to Tirana in buoyant mood.

    England manager Thomas Tuchel watches on during England's game against Serbia at Wembley.Image source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - 'Enjoying watching England again'published at 07:21 GMT

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    I’m actually enjoying watching England again. I know this wasn’t entirely thrilling but the link up play is starting to look world class.

    Pete, Manchester