{"id":20172,"date":"2025-09-09T22:10:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T22:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=20172"},"modified":"2025-09-09T22:10:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T22:10:07","slug":"serbia-0-5-england-world-cup-2026-qualifying-group-k-as-it-happened-world-cup-2026-qualifiers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=20172","title":{"rendered":"Serbia 0-5 England: World Cup 2026 qualifying Group K \u2013 as it happened | World Cup 2026 qualifiers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Thomas Tuchel\u2019s reaction<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m more than happy for the team and the staff. We had an excellent week from start to finish. We just proved what I saw everyday in this camp and that makes me very happy.<\/p>\n

There was a lot of teamwork in its purest form, and from there we showed our quality. We played with intensity in the duels; there was a lot of invisible work that you get no praise for.<\/p>\n

Elliot [Anderson] had another fantastic performance. [On Marc Guehi] It\u2019s exactly how the boys were in this camp \u2013 they put their personal interest aside. He was the best teammate possible.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve only had three weeks of training together. That\u2019s half a pre-season \u2013 it takes a bit of time. The credit goes to the players, they did amazing. [Lifts his hand] That\u2019s the bar.<\/p>\n

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David Hytner\u2019s report is here<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, it\u2019s coming home all right, Rob,\u201d<\/strong> says Simon McMahon. \u201cDid you see how Scotland dismantled Belarus last night? They\u2019d be as well getting Donald Trump to bring that big beautiful World Cup over in his golf bag next time he\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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An England win was the likeliest result tonight<\/strong>, but I doubt anybody predicted 5-0. They played with authority, penetration and class to hammer a decent Serbia team. Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford got the goals; England could have scored seven or eight.<\/p>\n

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Full time: Serbia 0-5 England<\/h2>\n

Some jester in the crowd blows what sounds like the full-time whistle. Clement Turpin waves for the players to continue until the end of the three added minutes, then puts Serbia out of their misery.<\/p>\n

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GOAL! Serbia 0-5 England (Rashford 90 pen)<\/h2>\n

With Harry Kane off the field, Marcus Rashford steps up to score with ease. Blimey, what a perfect night for England.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Marcus Rashford cooly slots home from the spot. Who saw this coming?<\/span> Photograph: Michael Regan\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.39 EDT<\/p>\n

89 min: Penalty to England<\/h2>\n

A couple of looks at the screen are enough for Clement Turpin.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Oh, that\u2019s a penalty.<\/span> Photograph: David Balogh\/The FA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.37 EDT<\/p>\n

89 min: VAR check <\/strong>I think this will be given.<\/p>\n

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88 min <\/strong>Rashford makes a blistering run on the break, then reverses a pass to Watkins in the area. He goes over under a clumsy challenge from Erakovic\u2026 and Clement Turpin says no penalty<\/strong>. That looked like a foul to me.<\/p>\n

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87 min <\/strong>Nothing to report.<\/p>\n

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83 min <\/strong>So, is it coming home or what?<\/p>\n

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82 min: Disallowed goal <\/strong>Ollie Watkins scores from Bowen\u2019s cross shot but he knew he was offside.<\/p>\n

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81 min: England substitution <\/strong>Declan Rice gives way for Jordan Henderson, who also receives the armband that Rice borrowed when Kane left the field.<\/p>\n

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80 min <\/strong>Another good save from Petrovic, this time to deflect Rice\u2019s snapshot round the post. England have taken Serbia to the cleaners.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a016.26 EDT<\/p>\n

79 min <\/strong>Petrovic makes a smart save, springing to his left to push a rasper from Rashford round the post.<\/p>\n

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78 min <\/strong>This win moves England eight points clear of Serbia, who have a game in hand, and seven ahead of Albania in second place.<\/p>\n

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76 min: England substitutions <\/strong>Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins replace Noni Madueke and Harry Kane.<\/p>\n

Serbia bring on Milos Veljkovic for Zivkovic.<\/p>\n

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GOAL! Serbia 0-4 England (Guehi 75)<\/h2>\n

Four-nil. The goal came from the free-kick that was awarded for Milenkovic\u2019s foul on Kane. Rice whipped a beauty to the far post, where Guehi got away from Pavlovic and stunned a half-volley through the legs of Petrovic.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Marc Guehi taps home to make it four. What a night for England!<\/span> Photograph: Bradley Collyer\/PAShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.25 EDT<\/p>\n

72 min: Milenkovic sent off!<\/h2>\n

Kane gets away from the last man Milenkovic in the inside-left channel and is wiped out. Everyone expects a yellow card \u2013 but Clement Turpin whips out a straight red, presumably because for the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. That looks harsh because Kane was moving away from goal.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Nikola Milenkovic is given a straight red card!<\/span> Photograph: Marko \u0110urica\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.22 EDT<\/p>\n

71 min: Serbia substitution <\/strong>Dusan Vlahovic is replaced by Aleksandar Mitrovic up front.<\/p>\n

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68 min: Double substitution for England <\/strong>Djed Spence and Marcus Rashford replace Reece James and Anthony Gordon. Spence\u2019s introduction is an historic moment; he is believed to be the first Muslim to play for England.<\/p>\n

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67 min <\/strong>This victory should end the slightly weird negativity around Thomas Tuchel after his first five games.<\/p>\n

Sounds like everything is okay in the stands now.<\/p>\n

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65 min <\/strong>A mishit cross from Pavlovic goes over Pickford and clears the crossbar by a few yards.<\/p>\n

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64 min <\/strong>According to Sam Matterface on ITV, there\u2019s a bit of crowd trouble that is being addressed by riot police. Nowhere near the England fans apparently.<\/p>\n

<\/span>The Police step in as the Serbian fans get restless.<\/span> Photograph: Bradley Collyer\/PAShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.17 EDT<\/p>\n

63 min <\/strong>Rice shoots straight at Petrovic from the edge of the area. An awkward chance, which he had to take first time with his left foot.<\/p>\n

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61 min: Serbia substitution <\/strong>Lazar Samardzic <\/strong>comes on for Ivan Ilic.<\/p>\n

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57 min <\/strong>England have now gone 10 hours without conceding a competitive goal. They did lose 3-1 to Senegal in a friendly mind.<\/p>\n

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56 min <\/strong>Gordon, who has been booked, catches Zivkovic in the face. It looked accidental and there\u2019s no suggestion that the referee is considering a second yellow.<\/p>\n

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54 min <\/strong>There was a VAR check for offside against Kane in the build-up but the goal stands.<\/p>\n

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GOAL! Serbia 0-3 England (Konsa 52)<\/h2>\n

Game over. Ezri Konsa gobbles up a simple chance after a mistake from Dorde Petrovic. He pushed Gordon\u2019s long-range shot out in front of goal rather than away, the ball ricocheted around the six-yard box and Konsa scored from a couple of yards.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Ezri Konsa fires home from close range, and that should be that.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.02 EDT<\/p>\n

50 min <\/strong>Serbia have started the second half on the front foot, as you\u2019d expect given the scoreline. Nothing for England to worry about yet, though, and Rice shot not far wide from distance a moment ago.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a015.58 EDT<\/p>\n

46 min <\/strong>A double change for Serbia at half-time. Filip Kostic and Luka Jovic replace Nedeljkovic and Birmancevic.<\/p>\n

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\u201cElliot Anderson quietly impressive again,\u201d<\/strong> says James Walsh. \u201cApologies if this was covered on Saturday, but who was the last Forest player to start for England before these two caps for the former Newcastle lad? I want to say Collymore or Pearce.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a nice distraction from the clown show week at The City Ground, anyway!\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019d need to check but I think it was Stuart Pearce against Italy at Le Tournoi on 4 June 1997.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a015.43 EDT<\/p>\n

Half time: Serbia 0-2 England<\/h2>\n

England have five toes in next summer\u2019s World Cup after a quietly dominant first-half performance in Belgrade. They had to be patient against a good Serbia defence but were rewarded for their superiority with two fine goals in the space of three minutes. Harry Kane headed Declan Rice\u2019s corner into the net from 12 yards, then Noni Madueke scored his first international goal after a delicious flick from Morgan Rogers.<\/p>\n

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45+1 min <\/strong>Vlahovic has a pop from 20 yards. Well struck but too high, and the last kick of the half.<\/p>\n

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45 min <\/strong>\u201cIn light of the length of the tunnel in Belgrade does the referee allow the teams an extra two or three minutes at half time?\u201d wonders David Wall. \u201cIf they only get the regulation 15 minutes then, by the time they make it back to the changing room and sit down, their cups of tea wouldn\u2019t be cool enough to drink before they have to head back out to reach the pitch in time. And if there\u2019s a queue for the bathroom, or if someone has indigestion from their pre-match meal, then you can forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-time break used to be five minutes. This lot don\u2019t know they\u2019re born.<\/p>\n

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44 min <\/strong>\u201cAs a Chelsea fan, I\u2019m very biased, but I\u2019m so glad to see Reece James doing well,\u201d says Neal Butler. \u201cHe\u2019s had such a terrible time with injuries, so seeing his name positively mentioned in an MBM is a real treat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t it just. He seems a really nice guy too so I\u2019d imagine 99 per cent of football fans wish him well.<\/p>\n

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42 min <\/strong>Rogers\u2019 flick for the second goal gets better every time you see it: the awareness, vision, timing and best of all the nonchalance.<\/p>\n

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41 min <\/strong>A tannoy announcement, presumably about that incident a moment ago, has been met with loud jeers.<\/p>\n

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40 min <\/strong>Gordon pulls back Nedeljkovic and is booked.<\/p>\n

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40 min <\/strong>Philip Cornwall, who is in Belgrade, says a laser pen was flashed in the England penalty area \u2013 that might have been why Turpin stopped play.<\/p>\n

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39 min <\/strong>The referee Clement Turpin is running towards the touchline to talk to the fourth official. Lee Dixon, commentating on ITV, thinks something may have been thrown onto the pitch.<\/p>\n

Turpin is happy for now and play has resumed.<\/p>\n

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Anderson played a short pass to Rogers<\/strong>, just inside the Serbia half. He flicked the ball nonchalantly into the space for Madueke, who timed his run perfectly and scampered through on goal. Madueke ran into the area, cut across Pavlovic \u2013 who couldn\u2019t touch him \u2013 and clipped the ball over Petrovic with authority. That\u2019s another excellent goal; Rogers\u2019 touch was delightful.<\/p>\n

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GOAL! Serbia 0-2 England (Madueke 35)<\/h2>\n

And that\u2019s Noni Madueke\u2019s first international goal!<\/p>\n

<\/span>Noni Madueke scores a brilliant second for England!<\/span> Photograph: Eddie Keogh\/The FA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a015.29 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Thomas Tuchel\u2019s reaction I\u2019m more than happy for the team and the staff. We had an excellent week from start to finish. We just proved what I saw everyday in this camp and that makes me very happy. There was a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[130,311,1936,419,11546,8920,12413,550],"class_list":{"0":"post-20172","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-cup","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-group","11":"tag-happened","12":"tag-qualifiers","13":"tag-qualifying","14":"tag-serbia","15":"tag-world"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20172\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}