England vs Serbia - World Cup qualifiers RECAP: Eberechi Eze seals victory for Three Lions

Another match, another England win.

Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions are on an absolute tear, and having already qualified for the World Cup, they managed to keep their momentum going tonight.

It wasn't the most exciting of games, sure, but goals from Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze got the job done against a stubborn Serbia.

It means England have now won all seven of their qualifying games, and have not conceded a single goal in any of the games. Pretty crazy.

Just the one game to go, and it comes on Sunday against Albania.

Anyway, I am now going to hit the hay and I will see all of you at the weekend for the next one.

Goodnight!

Thomas Tuchel, England boss, speaking about Jude Bellingham on Radio 5 Live:

Bukayo Saka has bagged himself a Man of the Match award.

Now, this is not me saying he played poorly, but I honestly think Marcus Rashford had a better game.

Yes, I know he didn't score, but overall he injected way more energy into proceedings.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter. Saka won it, and I mean, just look at that smile.

A happy bunny.

Final scores in the World Cup qualifiers:

Paul Robinson, former England goalkeeper, on Radio 5 Live:

Phil Foden, England midfielder, on ITV:

This is a silly, silly stat.

Jordan Pickford has just kept his 10th clean sheet in a row for England. I mean, that's an incredible record.

Granted, the opposition hasn't been the best in those 10 games, but it's still one hell of an achievement.

The man is a brick wall in a Three Lions shirt.

Bukayo Saka, England goalscorer, on ITV:

Sunday is a bit of a nothing game now.

Albania has nothing to play for anymore as they have just beaten Andorra to qualify for the play-offs.

That means what? You guessed it, Serbia is out.

I have to say, I really expected more from Serbia in the group phase, they have some real talent.

It just wasn't meant to be, though.

Eberechi Eze, England goalscorer, on ITV:

On World Cup ambitions:

Well, our chief sports writer, Oliver Holt, seems to think so.

I'd be inclined to agree, too. Jude Bellingham did have a nice little cameo tonight, and even played a big role in the second goal.

I mean, let's not kid ourselves here, Bellingham should be in the starting line-up come June next year.

He is one of teh county's most talented players, and he showed that again tonight. In a game that needed energy, he provided it.

Surely he starts against Albania?

Should we say Arsenal 2-0 Serbia?

I mean, both of the goals came from Gunners players, so we may as well thank them at the very least.

Even during the international break, things are going well for Arsenal.

Tonight is just the fifth time ever that two Arsenal players have scored in the same match for England (Saka and Eze), and first since November 2021 against San Marino (Saka and Smith Rowe).

Both silly goals, too... the good silly.

Right, we simply have to start the reaction with this goal.

I don't think I have ever seen a player plant the ball into the top corner with such little care in the world.

Eberechi Eze might just be the most nonchalant player in the world.

It's one hell of a finish, but also the run from Phil Foden to set up up was brilliant.

Another win for England.

That's now 10 wins from 10 in competitive games for Thomas Tuchel as they continue to grow in confidence ahead of the World Cup next summer.

I mean, it was a pretty pants game, let's be real, but it's another three points under the belt.

Just one more qualification match to go now.

During the celebrations, it was revealed that we will get four minutes of stoppage time.

I mean, the game is dead now, so nothing will happen in them.

WOW. WOW. WOW.

That is quite simply splendid from Eberechi Eze to finally kill this battling Serbian side off.

Phil Foden drives forward on the counter, slides the ball over to Eze, and he bends one top bins incredibly nonchalantly.

A silly finish.

Phoarrrr, another nearly moment for Serbia.

They break, and it takes a last-ditch tackle from Ezri Konsa to roll the ball back to Jordan Pickford.

This has been a tasty 10 minutes!

OH MY!

How has that not gone in? I was almost certain that Eberechi Eze had doubled England's lead.

But nope, his toe-poke volley six yards out hits the goalkeeper and bounces onto the bar.

I mean, what a chaotic few seconds.

Guess who is back, back again?

That's right, Adam Wharton is back in an England shirt as he replaces Elliot Anderson.

The midfielder has five minutes of normal time to show Thomas Tuchel what he is all about.

Another massive chance for Serbia!

The visitors are hammering at the England door now, but they just can't break it down.

Dusan Vlahovic gets on the end of a move again, but bends one inches over the bar.

He drops to the grass and punches the floor in frustration.

What. A. Chance.

Lazar Samardzic has his hands on his head, and so do most of his team-mates. How has he not levelled this game?

It's almost a carbon copy of Bukayo Saka's goal, but closer to the net, and the substitute just can't find the corner like the England winger did.

The offside flag does eventually go up, but still... big moment.

Yikes.

If Jude Bellingham is trying to get back in Thomas Tuchel's good books, that is exactly how not to do it.

The midfielder is lucky that Wembley is so big because his effort flies closer to the roof of this place than the net.

An impressive feat.

Remember Marko Grujic? You know, the lad who used to play for Liverpool?

Well, he has just entered the action, replacing Fulham's Sasa Lukic for the final portion of this game.

Luka Jovic and Nemanja Radonjic are also on.

Oh, Phil Foden should do better there.

The substitute gets on the end of a cross and is in acres of space, but tries too hard to look like Superman rather than score.

He flies toward the ball like a superhero and heads quite comfortably wide.

Maybe I'm harsh, but there was no need for the theatrics... just head on target.

That's a chance, a half-chance.

Dusan Vlahovic is really starting to give England something to think about, and he gets on the end of another decent move.

He rises highest at the back post and gets his noggin on the ball, but he can't guide it on target.

Serbia are now making a change.

Lazar Samardzic sprints onto the turf as the visitors seek the two goals they are in desperate need of.

Nemanja Gudelj makes way.

Those substitutions have instantly made a difference.

I have no longer found myself having the urge to go on my phone (even though I know I can't).

There is energy, some decent passing, and flow in the way England are playing.

About blooming time.

Heyyyyy, Jude!

Bellingham makes his long-awaited return to the England team and is greeted with a huge cheer.

He replaces Morgan Rogers as Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, and Jordan Henderson all join Bellingham.

Declan Rice, Harry Kane, and Marcus Rashford all also come off.

Ohhhhhhh...

What a move from Serbia, and Dusan Vlahovic nearly finishes it off in style.

But no, he leans back and screams to the sky after his backheel flies wide of the far post.

That's a warning shot for England.

We've had a shot, I repeat, we've had a shot.

Of course, it's from Marcus Rashford, but once again, it doesn't trouble the goalkeeper.

Rashford gets a knock in the process, but I think he is going to be OK.

If England are going to bring energy back to this game, it will come from both Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers.

They have been two of the better players on show today, which hasn't been hard, and link up for a fleeting moment.

But it comes to nothing, and back to the bore-fest we go.

This could be a long half, guys.

I have just been sat with my head resting on my fist these last few minutes because of how little is happening.

Remember what happened the last time I moaned, though?

Nah, no goal this time. As I typed that Nico O'Reilly sends one of the worst shots of the game miles wide.

Thomas Tuchel's rally cry for a better atmosphere hasn't exactly worked.

Yeah, I know half the people are still in the concourse right now, but even so, this atmosphere is dire.

In the first half, you could hear a pin drop at almost every moment, bar the goal.

This is why Wembley shouldn't be the venue for these games. So flat.

We are back underway at a rain-soaked Wembley.

It appears that many fans just want cover because this place looks half empty at the start of the second half.

Either that or they are still sinking beers and scranning pies; the adults that is.

Maybe Thomas Tuchel does care about that half, after all?

I think this picture sums up how we were all feeling in the first 27 minutes of this game.

Tuchel looked as confused as the rest of us at how poor England were at the start of the game.

I'm sure he will still have words with them, despite the lead they have.

I could watch this goal over, and over again.

Seconds before the ball dropped to Bukayo Saka, I was moaning about how little was actually happening.

Then the winger said, 'Hold my beer. '

I mean, it's just a stupendous finish on the volley, let's be real. A cracker of a goal.

And there is the whistle.

Has it been a classic? Nope. Will Thomas Tuchel care? Probably not too much.

Bukayo Saka's strike has the Three Lions ahead, and you have to say it's deserved.

So far, so good.

We have only three more minutes of this half.

It's only just started getting decent as well, which is annoying.

Oooooft, that's close.

Morgan Rogers has his hands on his head; he has come inches away from doubling England's lead.

Reece James floats one in, and Rogers gets the best of the flick-ons, but the ball bends just away from the far post.

Would have been some headed goal, that.

Oooh, cheeky that.

Serbia play a lovely little free-kick that stuns England and Filip Kostic races behind.

You can tell they worked on that on the training ground, but Kostic's eventual effort is blocked.

Rate that.

Well, that would have been a crazy goal.

Nico O'Reilly tries to drill a low cross in, but it takes a deflection and smacks off the outside of the post.

And oh, as I am typing, Harry Kane heads a glorious opportunity from the resulting corner over the bar.

In fact, wide. Into the ground and wide. Big chance.

Ivan Ilic has had to go off, and it really doesn't look good.

There haven't even been any replays of the incident because of how nasty the injury is.

He has been replaced by Aleksandr Stankovic.

Ok, now it makes sense.

Bukayo Saka is currently changing his boots on the touchline, so that must have been what the signal was all about.

Why he needs to change them, I don't know. he literally just scored a belter of a goal with the old ones. Odd.

Marcus Rashford really is feeling himself right now.

The winger exuberates confidence as he gets past another couple of players before seeing an effort saved by Rajkovic.

But then Ivan Ilic goes down after being twisted into a knot by Rashford, and he needs some attention.

Ohhhhhhh, that is pure unadulterated filth.

Marcus Rashford, that lad has a family, you simply can't do that to the poor fella.

The Barcelona winger has just taken it through the legs of a defender, and now he needs a ticket to get back into Wembley.

A lovely bit of skill.

Erm... it seems like we have another false injury.

Bukayo Saka definitely signalled something to the bench, but he is staying on the pitch for now.

Maybe he has just run it off... which is a relief for Thomas Tuchel.

Oh dear...

Just after opening the scoring, Bukayo Saka looks to have signalled to the England bench that he needs to come off.

The winger is hobbling a bit, but I still can't see anybody on the bench getting ready.

One to keep an eye on.

RIGHT ON CUE!

Bukayo Saka shuts me up almost instantly, and my word, in some style too. What a finish.

A free-kick ricochets to Saka just inside the box, and he bends a beautiful volley into the far corner.

Just the quality this game needed.

My word, this really is boring.

There is so little happening that England has me talking about half-chances.

Bukayo Saka has a shot blocked, and I mean, there is nothing more to it.

I really hope things improve soon.

Worry over.

Jordan Pickford is completely fine, and while down, it allowed Thomas Tuchel to give a little team talk.

Was that the plan all along?

Well, immediately after play restarts, Marcus Rashford puts in the first decent effort of the match, testing Rajkovic.

The strike is straight at the keeper, though.

Oh no...

Jordan Pickford is down and is rubbing his thigh. This really doesn't look good.

The ball was in Serbia's half when he went down, I have no idea what he has done here.

You don't often see Pickford down injured, if ever.

Well, that just sums up this game.

Bukayo Saka works some space on the edge of the area, and you are thinking 'just bang it, son'.

I mean, bang it he does, but the ball ends up flying miles over the bar. More groans then follow.

It's fair to say that wasn't Saka's best effort.

There are already groans...

I repeat: we are 15 minutes into this match and England fans are already groaning.

I think that tells you all you need to know about how this game has been going... or better, not been going.

Well, that's something at least.

England spring into life for the first time tonight and it's Morgan Rogers who gets a lovely flowing move going.

Marcus Rashford then has a little drive to open up space, but eventually, the ball ends up in the goalkeeper's hands.

Not the best move, but it has woken the fans up at least.

Chairgate update: I already have a bruise on my elbow.

I know that none of you have come here to read about me falling off my chair, but there is genuinely nothing happening on the pitch that I can write about.

Both teams are just passing it about for a minute or so and then losing the ball...

Not much in terms of entertainment so far.

Well, that is when it comes to the football. What I can tell you is that I have just fallen off my chair, which I imagine will make some of you laugh.

I was leaning back and then bag, next thing I know, my face is looking at the ground and my knees are screaming at me.

At least my hands still work so I can still do this blog.

The rain is making this pitch rather zippy, that's for sure.

Some of the passes are flying across the grass like bullets from a gun, and already some players are being caught out by it.

The rain really is lashing down here, the players are already absolutely drenched, and they only took their pre-match jackets off a few moments ago.

Oh, stop that, Declan.

Rice does some cheeky keepy-ups before he is finally given the nod to get this game going.

Let's hope we see fireworks like there were a few moments ago.

I feel like I am on a night out right now. This is crazy.

The pre-match show is more reminiscent of Infernos at 2am in Clapham rather than the National Stadium.

Well, I say that, but I doubt clubs allow fireworks inside their venues... nobody tell Mario Balotelli that, though.

That was one hell of a spectacle, I have to say.

Sadly, it has now ended, and the players are emerging from the tunnel, which actually has me a little gutted.

Could we not have grooved for a little while longer before the game?

That's right, Harry!

It may be raining at Wembley, but Kane and Co look eager to get going out there.

The players have been having a right laugh in the warm-up, they honestly looked like a group of mates having a kickabout.

It must be very fun to be able to play a game with absolute zero pressure on them. They don't need to win, they're just straight chilling.

I imagine if England lost, though, there would be outrage among the supporters and on social media. A meltdown.

I can't see that happening, mind.

Thomas Tuchel, England manager, speaking to ITV:

On how close he was to recalling Danny Welbeck:

On the Wolrd Cup:

It's raining cats and dogs here at Wembley.

I was telling a friend earlier how amazing the weather was in London for this time of year, but I spoke too soon.

I hope those of you reading this in Wembley have coats or umbrellas... you need them.

I was at a Sporting Lisbon game when a rainstorm hit earlier this month, and I looked like a drowned rat by the end of the night.

Was not dressed for the occasion whatsoever.

Thomas Tuchel, England manager, on Serbia:

A lot has changed since England last faced Serbia, which was only two months ago.

They have a new man in charge, for starters.

Dragan Stojkovic may be a hero in Serbia for what he did as a football player, but even that couldn't stop him from being given the boot due to poor form.

After over four years in the hot seat, Stojkovic was sacked in late October and replaced by Veljko Paunovic.

I doubt he will be able to make a difference so soon into the job and against an on-fire England side... but we will have to see.

Imagine he starts with a win, that would be crazy.

England have been rock solid defensively in recent months.

Yep, you are reading that right. Honestly, it is like Thomas Tuchel has just built a brick wall and plonked it in front of the opposition's net.

England are yet to concede a single goal in World Cup qualifying, having played six matches and won all of them. Pretty damn impressive.

What's even more impressive is that Jordan Pickford has gone nine games without letting the ball go past him and into the net.

Can he and his defence keep yet another clean sheet tonight?

I'm going to be interested to see the reaction to this video...

Seeing that England have now officially qualified for the World Cup, we decided to go galavanting outside Wembley to see what fans thought of the Three Lions' prospects for the tournament.

And well, it seems the idea of them being underdogs is not shared by many; these fans believe.

What do you guys think?

Right, shall we go back in time for a second? I think we should.

Let's rewind back to October when England were last in action, and well, everything went absolutely perfectly for them.

Why?

With two games to spare, Thomas Tuchel's men got the job the German was employed to do done and will be off to North America next summer.

They maintained their 100 per cent record in qualifying in Latvia tonight by smashing five past the hosts without reply.

Harry Kane bagged a brace while Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze both got on the scoresheet. Oh yeah, and there was an own goal.

It was the perfect way to sign off from what was an unusually entertaining international break.

Let's hope we are similarly entertained today.

The boys are back in town, as Thin Lizzy would say.

It seems like many of the England stars are buzzing to be back at the home of football.

Well, at least the players are... Thomas Tuchel has a face like a (fill in the gap with the words you know I'm not allowed to type).

Teddy Sheringham, former England striker, speaking to Oddspedia about Jude Bellingham:

Well, here is the confirmation.

Morgan Rogers is preferred to Jude Bellingham in the England midfield, with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice joining him.

There is a senior international debut for Nico O'Reilly, too. The lad has had quite the meteoric rise, don't you think?

Marcus Rashford also starts.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, no Jude.

Sorry, I know I have used that before but I simply couldn't help myself this evening. Had to be done.

Despite forcing himself back into the England squad, Jude Bellingham will be forced to watch on from the bench this evening.

Thomas Tuchel really is making him work for his spot, isn't he?

Morgan Rogers will keep his spot as the attacking midfielder despite an injury scare.

The full team news will be out promptly...

I mean, wow... just wow.

Now, I am not a fan of this time of year because of how it gets dark incredibly early, but boy am I glad it has today so that we could get this picture.

Wembley has always been a stunning venue, but this just goes to show how truly incredible this piece of architecture it is.

Imagine being lucky enough to be a footballer and play in that. I would do anything, honestly.

Instead, I report on it from the stands. Close enough.

Another international break?

I know, right? We are having more international breaks than there are delays on the Circle and District line on the London Underground. If you know, you know.

We are now in our third break of the campaign, and England are starting their victory lap after securing World Cup qualification last month.

If I were in that Three Lions dressing room tonight, I'd be wacking on the Skepta and Fred Again banger. In fact, I'm literally playing that as I type this, and I'm banging my head up and down. What a tune.

Anyway, I'm getting distracted.

Tonight, Thomas Tuchel's side take on Serbia, who are still fighting to finish in the play-off places, although things aren't looking great for them. Facing England away from home isn't the most ideal game for them right now. But you never know in football, eh?

Right then, lets get this show on the road!