Serbia vs England RECAP: Visitors run riot with a fifth on Thomas Tuchel's best night as Three Lions boss

Oh what a night, early September back in 2025...

You know the song, come on, sing it. I'm not sure why that came into my head, but it just did. I love a bit of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

It really was one hell of a night. England put on a show, reminiscent of the Jersey Boys, to demonstrate that when things click, few teams do it better.

Serbia were meant to be the toughest test of Thomas Tuchel's reign, and England were meant to be in for a long night.

Well, they took the Serbs to school in their own backyard.

Tuchel's side proved everybody who doubted them wrong by smashing five past Serbia to go seven points clear in their World Cup qualifying group.

Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi all scored their first international goals, while Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford started and finished the drubbing.

Tuchel's Three Lions have finally arrived, and in a big way.

Anyway, I am not going to hit the sack. Thanks for following along - see you soon.

The final of the first England goals.

You didn't think we were going to leave Ezri Konsa out, did ya?

His first strike for England was hardly teh prettiest, buyt he won't give two hoots about that.

A memory that will last a lifetime.

Paul Robinson, ex-England goalkeeper, on Radio 5 Live:

Declan Rice, England midfielder, speaking to Radio 5 Live:

On Elliot Anderson:

On World Cup qualification looking likely:

I simply have to talk about Noni Madueke.

During the summer, when he signed for Arsenal, Gunners fans started a hashtag #NotoMadueke. They didn't want their club to sign him; they didn't think he was good enough.

Well, they were wrong for doing that... for a multitude of reasons.

Not only has he started putting in some strong performances for the Gunners, like at Liverpool before the international break, but he has been brilliant during this international break.

Once again, he was one of the best England players on the pitch tonight. Madueke showed bravery to continually take on his man and create chances.

And that goal, wow. It was so well taken.

I really do think that Bukayo Saka has some competition on his hands for that right-wing spot, at both club level and country.

Harry Kane, England captain, speaking to Radio 5 Live:

Opta are on a generational run tonight.

Honestly, the statistics that these guys are coming up with are just sensational. I don't know how they do it.

Anyway, want to know why I'm so gassed?

Well, tonight is only the third time two players (Kane and Konsa) whose surnames begin with K have scored for England in the same game, along with Ray Kennedy and Kevin Keegan in March 1977 vs Luxembourg and Harry Kane and Michael Keane vs Montenegro in March 2019.

I mean, come on, a heck of a stat.

Paul Robinson, ex-England goalkeeper, on Radio 5 Live:

Marc Guehi, England goalscorer, speaking to ITV:

On his goal:

Noni Madueke, England goalscorer, speaking to ITV:

On his first goal for England:

Just look at all those smiles!

This is a result that these players desperately needed after all the criticism they have faced.

And boy, are they lapping it up. Rightfully so.

Declan Rice is even giving out piggybacks now, so that tells you exactly how he is feeling.

Thomas Tuchel, England boss, speaking on ITV:

On Elliot Anderson:

On Marc Guehi:

On his system:

If I were Jude Bellingham, I'd be worried.

Elliot Anderson has just waltzed into this England side like he has been in it his whole career. It really is something.

He was brilliant on Saturday, one of the few that were, and once again, he was brilliant today.

Anderson dictated play from the very first whistle, and honestly, I'm not sure how Thomas Tuchel can leave him out of the team from here on out.

Just look at those stats!

The Americas, here they comes.

England now only need five points to secure their place in next summer's World Cup. Not many, eh?

That win means they go eight points clear of Serbia, and seven points clear of second-placed Albania.

Qualification is surely all but secure at this stage.

It really was a night where everything clicked into place for England.

People had been moaning about the lack of goals, so what do they do? Go and belt in five.

And three of them were from players who had never scored for the Three Lions before.

In fact, England have had three or more players score their first goal in the same match for only the third time since winning the 1966 World Cup.

Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi all found the net in England colours for the very first time this evening.

The question is: which goal was the best?

What a guy Marc Guehi is, eh?

Honestly, I'm not sure there are many calmer and kinder players in the sport. He deserved a moment like he got tonight, and it was lovely to see that beaming smile.

Especially after the day he had before joining up with England...

It's a lovely ball from Declan Rice, and Guehi finishes it off like a striker in his prime.

Who saw that coming?

In the build-up, we all billed this as the toughest test of Thomas Tuchel's reign so far. I mean, Belgrade is usually a really hard place to come.

Well, the Three Lions had no problems here whatsoever.

This feels like a massive moment in the Thomas Tuchel era, the day where this England team really kicked on ahead of the World Cup next year.

They put their throat on Serbia's net in the first half, and they kept it down all second half, if not pressing it down harder.

An entertaining watch, at last.

There is the real whistle.

After all the criticism directed at how boring England were, much of it coming from me, that is some statement from the Three Lions.

They haven't just beaten Serbia in their own backyard, they have annihilated them. Hostile atmosphere? No problem.

Thomas Tuchel's team has finally arrived, and in style.

Oh my....

The whole stadium has just been fooled by a fan who has blown a fake whistle early.

But we carry one; the real ref is not showing mercy just yet.

Marcus Rashford makes no mistake from the spot.

The Barcelona forward does that horrible stutter that I absolutely despise, but he does the job, so I can't criticise.

After taking an age to strike the ball, Rashford sends Dordje Petrovic the wrong way to cap off a five-star display in Belgrade.

A big goal for the winger personally, too.

Thought so.

The referee is sent to see and it takes him just a couple of seconds for him to realise what a pants mistake he has made.

Now England have the chance to make it five.

What???

How is that not a penalty?

Ollie Watkins is wiped out in the box after a brilliant counter, but the ref waves it away.

That surely has to be a spot kick? It's a stonewaller.

This place is empty, very empty.

The Serbian fans have had enough; that fourth goal was the final straw, and they are off.

I'm pretty sure there are more England fans in here than home supporters now, honestly.

Annoyingly for them, they can't even leave if they want to.

Ohhhh, I thought I had got called it...

Ollie Watkins thinks he has tapped home a fifth, but the flag is up in an instant.

The striker was miles off, my word.

Declan Rice just can't get the ball past Dordje Petrovic tonight.

The midfielder has been brilliant on set-pieces, but in front of goal it's not his night.

He hammers a spicy effort at goal after getting on to Marc Guehi's low cross, but the Serbian keeper manages to get his palms to it.

And with that, Rice's work is done, as Jordan Henderson replaces him.

England aren't done yet, they are still having a right go.

Now Marcus Rashford comes close just moments after coming on, ripping a corker of an effort toward the far corner.

Dordje Petrovic has to be at full stretch just to push it past the post.

I feel like a fifth may well come, you know.

With that fourth goal, Thomas Tuchel makes some more changes.

Captain Harry Kane and Noni Madueke both make way after starting this rout off.

Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen replace them.

And worse, and worse, and worse!

Marc Guehi compounds Nikola Milenkovic's misery as he slides home the resulting free-kick to make this a real hammering.

Serbia hadn't conceded in World Cup qualifying before tonight, but England have now hit them for four.

What a ball by Declan Rice, by the way. Oooft.

Erm... wow.

That is so, so harsh.

Nikola Milenkovic is being sent for an early bath after taking out Harry Kane as the last man.

But Kane is nowhere near the goal, he is going toward the touchline. It's not like Milenkovic is denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Serbia's night is getting worse, and worse.

This game has lost its spark since the fighting broke out...

I wonder if the players noticed it?

Anyway, England are just in cruise control and are seeing this game out in a mature fashion.

I can respect them being a little boring at this stage.

What a moment for Djed Spence.

The Tottenham full-back enters the action for his very first international cap.

He really has turned his career around, hasn't he?

Spence replaces Reece James, while Marcus Rashford is on for Anthony Gordon.

Meanwhile, Aleksandr Mitrovic replaces Dusan Vlahovic.

Oh no, this is not good.

There seems to be some sort of commotion in the Serbian end, miles away from the England fans.

Riot police have suddenly swarmed the area, for whatever reason, and are trying to sort things out.

Hopefully, it's nothing too serious.

This could be a hammering, you know.

England really are battering the Serbians here, and Declan Rice has yet another pop as they win the ball high up the pitch.

But he seems to have forgotten his shotting boots today, as its another poor effort.

Serbia are making another change.

Ivan Ilic sprints off the pitch like he's desperate to not have to play England anymore.

I mean, with the Three Lions playing like they are, I'm not surprised.

Lazar Samardzic replaces him.

England have now gone 10 hours of competitive football without conceding a goal.

Now, that's blooming impressive.

Meanwhile, Zivkovic is currently getting the magic sponge treatment after getting in a tangle with Anthony Gordon.

The sponge always works, so he will be fine, I'm sure.

Well, that didn't take long.

The referee points to the centre spot just seconds after the VAR check seemed to have start.

Ezri Konsa can celebrate again!

Hang on a minute.

VAR are just checking whether Harry Kane was in an offside position in the build-up to the goal.

I think he may be, you know.

Game, set, and most certainly match.

Ezri Konsa bundles home a third for England, and his first for the country. He is ecstatic.

It's a messy one, and the ball bounces about in the box like a pinball, before falling to the defender at the back stick.

And Konsa hammers it home from point-blank range.

I was just about to talk about how the atmosphere had finally gotten back up to hostile levels again.

Well, Declan Rice cocking his leg and shaping up to shoot suddenly sapped the bnoise out of the ground in an instant.

It was quite odd.

Rice's strike didn't end up being that troubling either, as he fired pretty far wide of the post.

Ooooh, now this is interesting.

Nikola Milenkovic takes out Nottingham Forest team-mate Elliot Anderson, but wins the ball in the process.

Andeson stays down and Milenkovic looks as though he is telling the midfielder to get up and get on with it.

Put it this way, you wouldn't have guessed they played for the same club based on that interaction.

Wonder if they will have a chat back in Nottingham later this week.

I have just seen the footage of a laser pen being shone into Ezri Konsa's eye.

I mean, that's just not on, is it?

Anyway, the two teams are back out and off we go again - let's hope no lasers are involved in this half.

Serbia have made two changes, both Filip Kostic and Luka Jovic enter the fray.

Opta have just pulled a belter out of the fire.

Noni Madueke is the first player with all five vowels of the English language in his name to score for England since Paul Gascoigne against Moldova in September 1997.

Now that is one hell of a statistic, isn't it?

It's certainly one that will become part of some weird Thursday night pub quiz in a random village in about 20 years.

No excuses for not getting the answer now that you have read this post.

Roy Keane, former Republic of Ireland midfielder, on ITV:

We simply have to start with this goal.

I mean, Noni Madueke has been a shining light for England this cap, and this goal is what he has deserved.

It's a lovely first international strike, too. The flick, the run, and the finish. Just brilliant.

Watch and enjoy.

That sums up Serbia's 45 minutes.

Dusan Vlahovic nearly sends the ball out of the ground, and then the whistle is blown by the referee.

Now, that is the England we have been waiting and craving to see since Thomas Tuchel arrived.

That was a brilliant half of football from the Three Lions.

Ah nice, a brief period of stoppage time for once.

There will likely be one solitary minute which may well be over by the time I press send on this post.

The Serbian fans are not happy.

The stadium announcer has just said something in Serbian, which sadly is not a language I am adept in, and the fans are not happy.

There are rumours that some are using a laser pen to distract the England players.

Not like these guys to do something like that...

Anthony Gordon loves a booking, doesn't he?

He is currently suspended in the Premier League, and now he has picked up a yellow for a naughty challenge on Nedeljkovic.

No need for that, really.

Bang on, Craig.

Thomas Tuchel has been promising us some exciting football, and finally, we are getting it.

The last 10 minutes have been electric, and England are really starting to purr now.

This could get messy, you know.

Wow, wow, wow... what a goal!

They are coming like London buses now. One becomes two as Noni Madueke nets his first goal for England.

What a moment for the young winger.

Morgan Rogers produces a lovely little flick to set Madueke away. He races into the box and sweeps past Dordje Petrovic.

This is what we have all been waiting for.

If this ground hadn't already been silenced, it certainly has been now.

The only noise you can hear is being generated by the away end, who are having a right old ball now.

'England, England, England,' rings out... very creative.

I TOLD YOU A GOAL WAS COMING!

Declan Rice finally curls in the perfect corner, like he does week-on-week with Arsenal, and guess who gets on the end of it?

That's right, captain Harry Kane.

The skipper silences his critics, stooping low to head Rice's set-piece in off the post.

It had been coming.

Well, that's anti-climactic.

After all that, Reece James drills the ball into the wall and Serbia manage to clear.

Or wait a minute, was that a handball by Maksimovic to block the ball?

It certainly hits his arm, but nothing doing.

England have suddenly woken up!

Now Anthony Gordon has a dig from the right-hand side, and Dordje Petrovic just about manages to push it away from danger.

It feels like a goal is coming now...

And hello, maybe it could be from this free-kick, as Sasa Lukic gets his customary booking for fouling Harry Kane just outside the area.

Ohhhh... how has that not gone in???

I'm dumbfounded, I simply can't believe that England are not ahead here.

Morgan Rogers produces a cheeky turn, sets Noni Madueke away, and he pulls the trigger in the box.

It takes a deflection and bounces to Harry Kane five yards out, and he manages to get his foot to the ball to seemingly tap home while under pressure.

But it goes wide... crazy.

Oh dear... I just yawned.

I think that tells you all you need to know about how this game is going right now.

Oh, wait a minute!

Just as I finished typing that, Anthony Gordon springs into life and stings the palms of Dordje Petrovic.

That's more like it - some excitement, at last.

Reece James certainly knows how to cross a ball, my word.

The right-back whipped in a magical ball for Declan Rice on Saturday, and he does it once again here.

But this time, Rice can't get his noggin on the ball properly ad it comes to nothing.

England really have to watch for the Serbian counter,.

The hosts are primed to hit them on the break whenever they make a mistake.

It's happened a couple of times already, and once again Dusan Vlahovic leads the charge, this time following an England corner, which was pants.

Jordan Pickford sweeps out of his goal to put an end to it, though.

Serbia have their first pop at goal, which I bet is quite nice for Jordan Pickford.

Now, why would that be nice for the England goalkeeper?

Well, at least he is being given something to do, unlike Saturday against Andorra, as he holds on to Nedeljkovic's deflected strike.

I'd have to agree with Craig, sadly.

What was a bright opening few minutes has just turned into the performance we saw on Saturday.

Slow and boring. Not enjoyable.

If I were you guys, I would go and get yourself a pillow. It could be bedtime soon, if you catch my drift.

Ooooft, jeez....

It's nearly an absolute nightmare for Elliot Anderson, who passes backward but finds a blue shirt, rather than a white one.

Serbia break with pace, but Tino Livramento comes to the rescue and restores order in the Three Lions ranks.

That could have been a lot worse.

Oh, Tino, why didn't you just have a pop, son?

A corner is headed out to Livramento, who is sat on the edge of the area, and you are just thinking 'hit it!'

It sits up so invitingly that I wouldn't have been able to resist if I were playing, but Livramento doesn't do what I would and traps the ball before making a pass.

I mean, it's a waste, really.

OK, OK...

It seems like England may have read a lot of the criticism on Saturday night, because they have started really well here.

The Three Lions are right on the front foot, and Declan Rice has a dig from 25 yards out.

It's a decent little effort, but Dordje Petrovic handles it comfortably.

Ooooo...

Noni Madueke was one of the livelier players on Saturday, was lively at Anfield with Arsenal, and he looks lively here.

He looks to rip past Birmancevic down the right and drives into the box, before being nudged to the ground.

It's never a penalty, but that's a positive signal of intent.

Waheyyy...

Sorry, I can't help myself.

Elliot Anderson slips, and that is just a natural reaction from any English person, isn't it?

Let's hope, though, that it isn't because the pitch has been overwatered and turns into some sort of ice rink.

OK, right, now it's go-time.

The Serbian fans start belting out some sort of intimidating chant, and the teams get into position.

Off we go!

My word, you can actually hear the England fans.

It just shows how the 8,000-person hit is affecting the Serbian fans, they are now arguably being outsung by the Three Lions supporters.

I said it was getting hostile, but maybe I spoke too soon.

The teams are now out, and Aleksandar Mitrovic is getting a lovely present handed to him. It's because he has now played over 100 times for his country.

He does start this game on the bench, however.

It seems like we are finally getting an atmosphere.

The players are in the tunnel of doom and are starting to get ready to enter what is now a cauldron of noise.

It's getting a little bit hostile...

Roy Keane, former Republic of Ireland midfielder, on ITV:

How are we all feeling then?

I'm guessing you aren't that nervous, considering this is just your average international break match.

I know, I know, I normally try and hype games up at this point, but I just don't have it in me after Saturday.

The teams have just wrapped up their warm-ups, though, so it's nearly go-time.

Considering Thomas Tuchel is taking a lot of heat for his start as England boss, the stats say that he has been pretty darn good.

In fact, not many England managers have started better.

Tuchel could become just the fourth manager to win each of his first five competitive games in charge of England, if his side wins tonight.

Only Fabio Capello, Ron Greenwood, and Sven-Göran Eriksson previously achieved that feat.

Can he join that trio?

Nedum Onuoha, former England U-21 defender on BBC Sport:

For all their faults going forward, England are about as sturdy as they come at the back.

Well, based on recent form, at least.

England have not conceded a goal in any of their last six competitive fixtures and could tie their longest ever run of clean sheets in such games.

Now, this is great, because you can' lose games if you don't concede (I mean, duhhh), but I just hope that they show some pzaz up top.

I couldn't bear another bore-fest.

I thought I'd give this a little plug ahead of the game.

My colleague Oliver Holt wrote a piece on team Bellingham - Mark, in particular - ahead of the Andorra, and now Craig Hope has shared his own view on the Real Madrid star and his camp.

The Real Madrid maestro has long been seen as England's knight in shining armour, their saviour.

But that's not how Craig sees him.

Read more:

More tunnel content? Oh, go on then...

I'm sorry if I am overdoing it, but it's just very cool. I mean, just look at all the graffiti. Wicked.

Not going to lie, though, I did think of Cat in the Hat when I saw these pictures of the England players walking through the tunnel.

It's just the white and red stripes...

You know the tunnel I was in about?

Well, here is the view that England players will have when they make their way down it in approximately 45 minutes' time.

Not exactly a welcoming walk, is it?

Harry Kane, England captain, speaking on Monday:

On if the players will walk off the pitch if subjected to racial abuse:

Many of you may know that tonight their will be a reduced capacity at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.

Why is that?

Well, there will be a 15 per cent reduced capacity - roughly 8,100 seats - due to poor behaviour from Serbian fans during a match against Andorra in June.

The punishment is for 'discrimination and racist abuse' from their supporters during that match.

And ahead of the match, the Serbian Football Association have asked their fans to be respectful during the 90 minutes.

A statement read: 'Due to all the stated, and above all because the Football Association of Serbia is under UEFA and FIFA scrutiny, as well as the history of various incidents that have made us subject to UEFA and FIFA disciplinary measures -- we appeal to supporters to send out an image to the world that will make us all proud.

'UEFA has long ago proclaimed a list of prohibited items (signs, symbols, flags, sounds, chants, political slogans...) that are subject to sanctions and strict penalties.

'The national team is our pride, we have no other, and it certainly deserves the support fitting for these important matches," the statement continued.

'We would like to emphasise the importance and necessity of proper behaviour that contributes to creating a positive stadium atmosphere.'

The Three Lions have arrived at the dragon's den.

The Rajko Mitic Stadium is a proper, proper ground. It generates one of the most hostile atmospheres in the whole of Europe.

I remember watching Liverpool there in 2018, the season they won the Champions League, and they wilted under the pressure.

One of the key features of the stadium is its concrete tunnel, which is 73 metres long and is known as the 'horror tunnel'.

Morgan Jones is pictured walking through it here, but it doesn't look like it's bothering him one bit.

I mean, fair play...

Thomas Tuchel has made some changes - four, to be precise.

Morgan Rogers' name is the first to catch my eye, as he comes in for Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze.

Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa, and Tino Livramento also come into the side.

Myles Lewis-Skelly isn't even in the squad, while Marcus Rashford and Dan Burn drop to the bench.

Thomas Tuchel, England boss, speaking on Monday:

I said it on Saturday, I've already said it tonight, and I will say it again: if England win tonight, World Cup qualification is all but secured.

Let's be real, Serbia are the only team who are really threatening to deny England of automatic qualification for the tournament.

Even then, they are five points adrift of Thomas Tuchel's team.

If England lose tonight, the gap is two points and they have a real fight on their hands to get that top spot.

But win, and well, they can practically start booking their flights to the Americas for next summer.

Tonight is a real biggie for Group K...

'Thank goodness that's over,' is what I wrote after full-time on Saturday.

England somehow managed to upset us all despite winning a game of football. It takes a unique skill to manage that, and it's not a good one to have.

The most impressive achievement tonight is that everyone inside the Villa Park press box managed to stay awake as they reported on England calmly knocking the ball about in front of a stubborn Andorra.

I'm not sure about the fans in the stands around it, though.

Anyway, Thomas Tuchel's side still got the job done as an own goal plus a Declan Rice header saw the Three Lions come out on top.

And while I could gladly moan about how tough this England side are to watch, the fact of the matter is they are winning the important games.

That victory means they have four wins from four in their World Cup qualifying group, and are four points clear of second-placed Serbia. If they win in Belgrade tonight, they will go eight clear.

Ain't nobody catching them if that happens.

I'm not sure I am ready for this again...

To say England's last match against Andorra on Saturday was dull would actually be too kind. It was an awful watch. I'm still shocked I managed to stay awake for the whole 90 minutes.

Normally, I'm quite a positive and optimistic bloke when it comes to life. Sometimes almost too positive that it annoys people. Yep, I'm that person.

But even I couldn't make that match sound fun.

Now, that being said, I am expecting a more eventful and entertaining game tonight, as the Three Lions take on their toughest test yet under Thomas Tuchel.

England are in Belgrade to take on a Serbia side that will be desperate to cause Tuchel and his team more embarrassment.

Despite there being a reduced capacity in Belgrade tonight, you can still expect an incredibly hostile environment that will be enough to throw any big player off their game.

Can the Three Lions deal with the atmosphere and pick up a huge three points in their bid to qualify for next year's World Cup?

We will have to wait and see.