AT LAST! An England performance that the fans have been craving for. It has been quite a long wait to be able to enjoy an England match but this is one that manager Thomas Tuchel and the rest of us can finally savour.

After a quiet start, England began to dominate possession once more as the midfield got to grips with the Serbian threat. In the first 15 minutes there were few sorties into either side's penalty areas, but then Jordan Pickford easily saved a shot from Kosta Nedeljkovic and that was really the only time the Serbs threaten the England goal for the rest of the match. On 23 minutes after a couple of fruitless corners, Reece James put in a cross to the far post, where Declan Rice could not quite get any purchase on his header at goal. Two minutes later Anthony Gordon came close after a good move ended with a shot that went wide. Almost immediately Gordon was again to the fore as he burst through two defenders to fire in a fierce shot. Goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic elected to punch clear and he gained some distance, such was the nature of the shot.

After 28 minutes a combination between Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke and Harry Kane almost brought an opening goal, but not quite. However, all this pressure had been mounting. On the half-hour James had a free-kick on the edge of the area and his shot was blocked by the wall, but it only delayed the inevitable as five minutes later England took a deserved lead. Surprisingly it came from a corner in the 35th minute. We have gained little success from our corners in recent times, but this one finally broke the mould. Kane cleverly held back, but timed his run to perfection to meet Rice's corner and guide a header into the far side of goal and in off the post. That was good reward from some sustained attacking.

Then, suddenly, it was two in two, as two minutes later England scored again. A through ball from the impressive Elliot Anderson was brilliantly flicked into the path of Madueke by Rogers and the Arsenal man strode forward before neatly finishing with a shot past the keeper. Gordon then picked up a booking as the atmosphere grew a little more hostile, but a word here for the referee Clement Turpin from France, who had an excellent game all through handling the match with firm but fair common sense.

Right on half-time, Dusan Vlahovic shot over Pickford's crossbar, but that was a token gesture as the teams trooped off at the break with England totally in control. Whenever I write these reports against so many itches, I want to scratch! (Think about it)

More of the same were the words on everyone's lips as the game resumed, and Rice was soon trying his luck again after a good move down the right, but his shot was weak and it was Serbia who were trying hard to come back. Their pressing was strong for a short while with England trying to recover their rhythm of the first-half. And just at the right time they scored a third goal which effectively ended Serbia's second-half start. The goal was interesting as Gordon cut inside, hit another good shot at goal which, again, Petrovic tried to punch away. But this time the ball struck Marc Guehi as he followed up, and it almost found Kane but instead it ran to Ezri Konsa at the far post and he shot home from a tight angle.

England's defence had been tested a little more in this match but Guehi and Konsa looked a very solid partnership and I do like the contribution that Valentino Livramento gives to this side. On 63 minutes Rice tried again but his shot lacked power once more and then three minutes later Pickford did his usual one error per match with his footwork, and he was very lucky to get away with another poor clearance trying to find a teammate.

Tuchel made two changes then, bringing on Djed Spence for James and Marcus Rashford for Gordon, but it did not change England's dominance. The next incident saw another England attack end when Nikola Milenkovic's cynical challenge brought down Kane as he sped goalwards. The referee had no choice but to give the Nottingham Forest defender a red card. That was the final straw for the Serbian team as their heads dropped further. From the resultant free-kick, Rice's centre is met with Guehi's stabbed shot from close range beating the keeper to make it 4-0, and with three players now scoring their first goals for their country. But they now have the difficult task of catching Kane's 74 goal total. Only 73 to go!

Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen then came on for Kane and Madueke and straight away Rashford cuts inside with Petrovic making a good save to push the ball away clear. Then Rice, who had been peppering the goal all evening saw a much better shot hit the goalkeeper who knew little about his save! Rice was subbed after that for Jordan Henderson. Bowen was soon in the action attacking at speed and his centre was touched home by Watkins, but sadly the Villa man was clearly offside. Right on the 90th minute England did score again with Watkins once more involved. Rashford's pass sent Watkins in but he is brought down by Strahinja Erakovic. At first the ref didn't give it, but after being summoned to the VAR screen he took one look and didn't hesitate to change his mind and give a penalty. Up stepped the tiptoeing Rashford to convert the spot-kick and so ended a terrific and satisfying victory for the England team.

It really was a good performance all round and I have said this many times, when all the players in an England team play well together, then they can beat anyone. And so it proved on a great night in Belgrade.
           

Source Notes