England’s Midfield Mastery: A Solid Victory Against Serbia

Bukayo Saka’s precise volley set the tone early in the match, but it was the late-game resurgence driven by Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Eberechi Eze that restored England’s control and ensured they secured all three points against Serbia. The Serbian side effectively frustrated coach Thomas Tuchel’s team with a compact defensive structure, requiring England to engage in patient buildup play to penetrate their defenses. In response, Tuchel turned to his bench early in the second half, unleashing a wave of attacking talent that swiftly altered the game’s rhythm. Eze, capping a dynamic cameo, sealed the victory with a superb late strike, effectively doubling England’s lead, while Foden and Bellingham, who came on as substitutes, contributed significantly to help the Three Lions maintain their advantage.

Tuchel appears increasingly confident in Elliot Anderson as a potential partner for Declan Rice at the upcoming World Cup. In the match against Serbia, Anderson delivered yet another commanding performance. Although primarily known for an advanced role at Nottingham Forest, he has adjusted seamlessly to a deeper position for the national team. His average of 118 touches per 90 minutes during England’s qualifying campaign is a figure typically associated with experienced international playmakers.

Acknowledging Anderson’s growing importance, Tuchel stated, “Elliot and Declan are currently the leading midfield duo. They complement each other exceptionally well and are performing at the highest level for both club and country. This is a significant acknowledgment of their capabilities. We substituted Declan after 65 minutes to give him an opportunity to rest, while Elliot played the full 90 minutes in his first season of international games, proving to be a key player at Nottingham Forest as well.”

The victory against Serbia marked England’s seventh consecutive win in qualifiers, boasting an astounding tally of 20 goals scored without conceding any. No European nation has reached this point in a World Cup qualifying cycle with a perfect clean sheet and winning record. Despite this flawless defensive achievement, Tuchel emphasized that he has never discussed the pursuit of historical records. For him, the primary focus is on mentality rather than milestones.

“I haven’t mentioned that at all. We ensured to maintain high quality and mentality in our training session yesterday, particularly from those who did not play, which was a pleasure to witness and be part of,” he remarked. “This reassured me that we are developing in the right direction. Each player is eager to play, and there is a significant desire to start. The competition remains intense, and the hunger to perform tomorrow is paramount.

“Today, we prepared for Albania, discussing our offensive strategies and the defensive structure of their team as we always do, conducting a tactical training session. All our discussions revolve around the process and the aspects we can influence. We need to lay the groundwork properly to have a chance at achieving these records. Simply thinking or talking about them will not effect change; we must deliver once again tomorrow. The confidence and trust are certainly present, as I have witnessed in the camp. I trust my players to perform well again.”

England will now travel to Albania for their final qualifying match, aiming to complete an unprecedented perfect campaign. While their qualification is already secured, this fixture provides Tuchel with another opportunity to refine team combinations and assess players seeking increased involvement.

“Generally, I hope and feel that our desire to win and accomplish something outweighs any fear of losing or the potential loss of a clean sheet record,” he added. “Records occur naturally. We recognize that achieving such a high number of clean sheets requires collective defensive effort from the team. However, a degree of luck is also necessary in certain moments. We should not dwell on what we might lose; instead, we should focus on the excitement of the next opportunity to showcase our quality in another thrilling and intense match.”

With Rice and Anderson emerging as the core of Tuchel’s midfield, the manager seems closer than ever to establishing the foundational structure of the team he envisions will carry England deep into the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.