England 2-0 Serbia - Live Match Report and Player Ratings

England 2-0 Serbia Live Report and Ratings

Fans hoping for a classic in the World Cup Qualifying match at Wembley between England and Serbia would have been left disappointed, but England pulled out a professional-enough display to dismiss their visitors 2-0.

It was two excellent moments of finishing to secure the points amidst England's perfect qualifying run, as Arsenal were represented by their stars at Wembley with a technical, precise Bukayo Saka volley to open the scoring, and a tasty curling effort from Eberechi Eze to close it.

Arsenal Advertised As England Dismiss Serbia

The first half began much in the way you would have expected a game that ended 5-0 to England in the reversal a few weeks back to have gone - England swallowed up the vast majority of possession, and Serbia dug in and tried to feel the Three Lions out with any rare chances afforded to them to come forward on the break.

Chances were at a slight premium over the course of the opening half-hour, with the majority of shots being blocked by a steadfast visiting defence. Two of them had come from Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, one which flew over the bar and the other one, as such, blocked. Serbia would suffer an unfortunate hit to their personnel too, with Ivan Ilic being withdrawn after an unfortunate injury when defending against Marcus Rashford.

Saka wouldn't be denied for too long, pulling out a sublime bit of technique on the cusp of the hour mark. After debutant Nico O'Reilly saw a shot from the edge blocked away by Serbia, the ball fell fortuitously for Saka at a promising angle. The 24-year-old, rather than collecting and recycling, struck the ball with a precise volley that left Predrag Rajkovic floundering and the score at 1-0 to England.

Declan Rice was the man on set-piece duty for Thomas Tuchel's World Cup hopefuls, and England came close to doubling their money just beyond the 40-minute mark through captain Harry Kane. England's record scorer has been in rude form at club level for Bavarian heavyweights Bayern Munich, but the former Tottenham striker's rise to meet a Rice corner could only sail over the bar as the score was settled at the interval.

Half-Time: England 1-0 Serbia

The second half rang much to the same tune as the first, with England continuing to dominate the ball whilst Serbia kept their heels firmly planted, perhaps remembering how England tore them apart in the second-half of their clash in Belgrade earlier this year.

Serbia did a competent job of keeping their hosts at an arms length, with England unable to carve a clear way through their back line. Some substitutions did the trick, with a lovely give-and-go between the brought-on Jude Bellingham seeing a sight at goal denied after a gorgeous back-heel from Reece James.

England bit back with a big chance crafted between two substitutes as Brentford's Jordan Henderson whipped a delightful ball in to the head of Manchester City star Phil Foden, but he couldn't direct a powerful free header into a position of trouble for Rajkovic.

Serbia would have another big chance after a rare giveaway on the edge of the box for England, with Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic's strike deflecting into the path of Lazar Samardzic in an eerily similar style to the way in which Saka had scored the game's only goal at that stage. Fortunately for a slightly-sleeping England, the Atalanta attacker could only pull it wide of the mark.

Thomas Tuchel's men would again bite back with a big chance as the game, somehow, opened up and it was another substitute in Eberechi Eze who came close to grabbing a true settler. A fine run from Bellingham preceded a pass into the feet of Foden, who's first-time lob over the Serbia backline had the Arsenal star on the stretch. He got a connection, and got behind it enough to trouble Rajkovic, but the Al-Ittihad keeper got enough onto it to bounce it down onto the floor, off the bar and out into safety.

There would be one more goal in this tale, thankfully, and it was true beauty from - you guessed it - a substitute in Eze who would not be denied his goal. Bellingham brought on another good run through the heart before finding Foden. The 25-year-old strode forward and had the option of Eze to his left and Saka to the right - he chose the latter, who wrapped a beautiful strike right into the top-right corner to settle the issue once and for all, quelling Serbia's late hopes and putting their World Cup hopes into doubt.

For England, though, it was to be another professional showing to dismiss a hopeful opponent with control and neccesary moments of quality.

Full-Time: England 2-0 Serbia

Match Highlights

Soon To Come...

England Player Ratings

Starting XI: Pickford (6), James (7), Konsa (6), Stones (6), O'Reilly (6), Anderson (7), Rice (7), Rogers (6), Saka (8), Rashford (6), (C) Kane (7)

Substitutes: Eze (6), J.Henderson (7), Bellingham (7), Foden (7), Wharton (N/A)

Unused Substitutes

D.Henderson, Trafford, Chalobah, Burn, Spence, Quansah, Bowen

Serbia Player Ratings

Starting XI: Rajkovic (5), Mimovic (7), Milenkovic (7), Pavlovic (7), Terzic (6), Gudelj (6), Lukic (7), I.Ilic (N/A), (C) Kostic (5), Zivkovic (5), Vlahovic (5)

Substitutes: _Stankovic (6), Samardzic (6), Grujic (5), Jovic (6), Radonjic (6)

Unused Substitutes

V.Ilic, Petrovic, Veljkovic, Milosavjlevic, Erakovic, Katai, L.Ilic

Man Of The Match - Bukayo Saka

It wasn't exactly a game glimmering in quality, but Bukayo Saka carried a constant threat for England tonight, scoring an absolute peach in technical brilliance to open the scoring.

There were several good showings, particularly from the bench in the shape of Foden, Eze, Bellingham and Jordan Henderson, but Saka takes the cake for us after a solid full-90.

Bad Day At The Office - Nobody

Yeah - boring, boring Football Park.

Truth is, nobody on either side really deserves to be tagged with this particular tagline. Serbia did well to keep England quiet for the most part, with their clinical edge being the only real difference. And England - well, they won.

A good job was done by all.