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.

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.

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."

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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.

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."

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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.

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."

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."

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Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

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

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

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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

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.

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