England beat Serbia 2-0, Tuchel showed off squad depth
Bukayo Saka opened the score, Eberechi Eze finished in the 90th minute; Tuchel changed Rice, Rashford, Kane, Rogers after 60 minutes to bring Foden, Bellingham, Eze, Henderson onto the field
In the 90th minute at Wembley, Jude Bellingham won the ball in the middle of the pitch, Phil Foden ran forward and passed to the left for Eberechi Eze to finish neatly: 2-0. That concise finish completed England's victory over Serbia and showed the most important thing of the night - the depth of the squad under coach Thomas Tuchel.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the first half. Although Serbia defended disciplinedly and limited the clear-cut chances, England still controlled the speed, tempo and position of the game, asserting their position against the opponent considered to be the closest pursuer in Group K of the World Cup qualifiers.
Squad depth and substitutions after the 60th minute
With the game in his hands, Tuchel made a series of substitutions that few teams could match: after the 60th minute, he took off Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Morgan Rogers, bringing on Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Jordan Henderson. For Serbia — who were watching their World Cup spot slip away — it was another blow to their hopes of turning things around.
The flurry of changes isn’t just about refreshing the energy. It’s a statement about depth: stars who can make a difference step out, and equally high-caliber players step in without sacrificing the intensity.
Tactical problem: Foden '9 and a half', Bellingham breaks the structure
Foden came on to play the role of false nine — or 'nine and a half' as Tuchel described it — stretching the Serbian defensive structure by dropping back to link up. With just a few touches, Bellingham showed his ability to break the structure with his trademark turn and acceleration, opening up the space for the decisive play.
Morgan Rogers proved worthy of his starting spot, fitting in with the pressing rhythm and linking up midfield. Rashford — the 'special project' Tuchel has patiently honed — kept his pace and flair on full display, keeping opposition defences on their toes. Elliot Anderson continued to perform well, keeping the system balanced amid constant personnel changes.
Main events
- First half: Bukayo Saka opened the scoring, putting England in the initiative.
- After 60 minutes: Tuchel replaced four key players, bringing Foden, Bellingham, Eze, Henderson onto the field to maintain intensity and control.
- Minute 90: Bellingham won the ball, Foden ran up and then assisted Eze to make it 2-0.
- Compared to the first leg in Belgrade in September, England did not 'crush' their opponents, but still dominated in terms of speed and tempo of play.
| Player | Team | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bukayo Saka | Older brother | First half | 1-0 |
| Eberechi Eze | Older brother | 90' | 2-0 |
Impact and competition for starting position
This defeat makes it more difficult for Serbia — their closest rivals — to compete in Group K. For England, the message is even clearer: even if Kane, Rashford or Rice are replaced, the quality of output is still preserved.
Sunday's final group game in Tirana is seen as an opportunity for Tuchel to experiment further. The German insists he has 'eight positions' in his World Cup squad, but that hasn't dampened the players' ambitions.
The list of absentees from Wembley — Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Gibbs-White and Trent Alexander-Arnold — shows just how fierce the competition is for a place at the 2026 World Cup. It has never been harder to break into a strong England squad.
The departure of Kane, Rashford and Rice to make way for Foden, Bellingham and Eze — players who can make a difference in any team — could not be a clearer warning to the rest of the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
