England boost 2026 World Cup hopes with dominant win over Serbia

The result extended their competitive winning run to eight matches under Thomas Tuchel.

The match had been billed as the sternest test of Tuchel's reign, with Serbia expected to pose a serious challenge at home.

Early on, England controlled possession but struggled to penetrate in the final third. Harry Kane wasted a promising opening, sending Noni Madueke's pass wide.

The breakthrough arrived around the half-hour mark when Kane rose highest to meet Declan Rice's corner and guided a header past goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Arsenal winger Madueke soon doubled the lead, marking his first international goal after slick interplay involving Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers.

England's third came in fortunate fashion: Anthony Gordon's strike was parried by Petrovic into the path of Ezri Konsa, before ricocheting off Marc Guehi and over the line.

Serbia's night worsened when Nikola Milenkovic received a straight red card from French referee Clement Turpin for bringing down Kane as the last defender. From the resulting free-kick, Rice supplied another pinpoint delivery, this time finished emphatically by Guehi to make it 4-0.

Tuchel, buoyed by the cushion, rotated his side to test different combinations, but the visitors still pressed forward.

Their dominance was capped late on when Marcus Rashford coolly converted a penalty to complete the rout.

The result leaves England on the brink of sealing their place at the 2026 finals, with confirmation potentially coming in October's international fixtures.