Saka Fires England Ahead as Three Lions Edge Serbia at Wembley
England are back in World Cup qualifying action, and it’s been a steady but slightly subdued night at Wembley so far. The Three Lions are leading Serbia 1–0, thanks to a well-taken volley from Bukayo Saka midway through the first half. It wasn’t a flashy start, but that one moment of quality has put England in control as the match continues under the lights in London.
From the outset, it was clear that manager Thomas Tuchel wanted to keep things simple. His side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Harry Kane leading the line, supported by Marcus Rashford and debutant Morgan Rogers. Meanwhile, young Nico O’Reilly made his senior debut for England, slotting in comfortably at left-back. He showed calmness on the ball and linked up neatly with Rashford down the flank—a performance that certainly hints at promise for the future.
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Serbia, however, have not made things easy. They’ve pressed aggressively, closing down the midfield duo of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, who are still building chemistry at the heart of England’s system. The visitors have shown flashes of danger, especially through Dusan Vlahovic, but England’s backline—anchored by John Stones—has held firm.
The moment that separated the sides came in the 28th minute. A cross from the right was mishandled by Serbian goalkeeper Rajkovic, and Saka was right there to pounce, firing home a crisp volley. It wasn’t the most glamorous of build-ups, but it was a finish of pure instinct, giving England a well-deserved lead.
After that, the tempo dipped a little. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson summed it up perfectly on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying, “Possession without purpose doesn’t get you anywhere.” The energy in the stadium also felt a bit flat—especially compared to England’s previous home fixture when thousands of Wales fans brought the noise. Still, the focus tonight is less about spectacle and more about maintaining momentum in qualification.
Thomas Tuchel’s side had already secured their place in next summer’s World Cup, but this match was about fine-tuning, experimenting, and giving new players like O’Reilly valuable minutes. There’s a sense that the England manager is trying to blend experience with youth while keeping his squad sharp. Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are waiting on the bench, ready to add creativity if needed later in the game.
As it stands, England look comfortable but cautious—a team doing just enough to manage the game. The crowd may be quiet, but the mission is clear: keep the winning run going. If they can see this out, it’ll be seven wins from seven qualifiers, a perfect record under Tuchel’s charge. Not bad at all for a side still finding its rhythm, and once again, it’s Bukayo Saka leading by example when it matters most.
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