England secured a 2-0 victory over Serbia at Wembley, with Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze scoring, as coach Thomas Tuchel experimented with his squad in a match where qualification was already assured.
England maintained their perfect record in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, defeating Serbia 2-0 at Wembley with goals from Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze in a display dominated by strong midfield control, according to multiple match reports.
The England national team delivered a professional and measured performance against Serbia at Wembley Stadium, securing a 2-0 victory that ensures their flawless run of wins in the UEFA Group K qualifiers remains intact.
Below are the individual player ratings for the starting XI and key substitutes, as per Goal UK
Goalkeeper and Defence
Jordan Pickford: 7/10
The Everton stopper had a largely quiet night, shielded effectively by the disciplined backline, but displayed a commanding presence and was reliable in his limited tasks, contributing to yet another clean sheet for the Three Lions.
Reece James: 7/10
The right-back continued his positive rehabilitation, showing bursts of energy and providing robust defensive cover down the flank. His attacking intent was evident, offering positive, forward-thinking support to the winger.
Ezri Konsa: 7/10
The central defender delivered a disciplined performance, effectively neutralizing the aerial and direct threat from the Serbian forwards. He completed his defensive duties with focus and stability alongside his partner.
John Stones: 7/10
As the anchor of the defence, the centre-back dictated play from the back. His cool distribution and astute positioning were crucial to ensuring England maintained territorial control and retained their perfect defensive record in the group.
Nico O’Reilly: 6/10
Making his senior debut, the left-back provided crucial movement and was involved in the build-up play for the second goal. While he showed some expected nerves in his early passing game, he generally proved a solid presence in the wide defensive area.
Midfield
Declan Rice: 8/10
A truly commanding presence in the centre of the park, controlling the tempo of the game with efficiency and energy. The midfielder was instrumental in winning the ball back quickly and initiating attacks, constantly running the show.
Elliot Anderson: 6/10
The midfielder had a tidy and effective outing, focusing on recycling possession and linking the defense to the forward line. His performance was economical, providing the stable foundation required for England’s tactical approach.
Forwards and Substitutes
Bukayo Saka: 8/10 (Man of the Match)
The winger was England’s biggest threat and secured the opening goal. He scored with an exquisite volley after a deflected shot fell his way, demonstrating impressive poise and finishing quality inside the box.
Harry Kane: 7/10
As captain, Kane linked the play well between midfield and attack, dropping deep to create space. However, his score was slightly marked down after missing a clear heading opportunity before being substituted in the second half.
Marcus Rashford: 6/10
The forward showed flashes of his blistering pace and ability but struggled to find the necessary final product to turn his dangerous runs and positioning into tangible goal contributions before being withdrawn.
Jordan Henderson: 7/10 (Sub for Rice, 65′)
The veteran replaced Declan Rice and immediately took the captain’s armband, bringing experience and composure to the central midfield. Henderson displayed strong distribution, highlighted by a “wonderful cross” into the box that Phil Foden met with a header, demonstrating his ability to maintain control in the deep-lying role.
Jude Bellingham: 6/10 (Sub for Rogers, 65′)
Returning to the squad, the midfielder injected energy and forward momentum into the attack. While Bellingham displayed “spark” and was pivotal in the counter-attack that led to the second goal, he was noted for being “a little bit wasteful on the ball” when attempting the killer pass in the final third.
Adam Wharton: N/A (Sub for Anderson, 85′)
Despite being a late introduction with less than 10 minutes of regular time remaining, the young midfielder was composed and “looked classy on the ball,” offering promising flashes of tidy distribution during his limited appearance.
Eberechi Eze: 8/10 (Sub for Rashford, 64′)
The forward made the most decisive impact of the night, securing the 2-0 victory with a superb late finish. After an earlier “acrobatic late effort” was saved onto the crossbar, he sealed the result by sweeping a “wonderful first-time curling finish” into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Phil Foden: 7/10 (Sub for Kane, 65′)
Foden was deployed in an “experimental striker role” after replacing Harry Kane. He was central to the second goal, carrying the ball forward in a rapid counter-attack and delivering a perfectly weighted assist for Eze.
Although he missed a headed opportunity from a Henderson cross, his influential play was crucial to the late goal.
The team’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, credited the substitutes for injecting new energy, stating they showed the necessary mentality to close out the game against the Serbians.