Harry Kane, Ezra Konsa, Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford all got on the scoresheet on a night to remember in Belgrade

At last! England produced a statement performance under Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday as the Three Lions faced down the intimidating atmosphere in Belgrade and calmly thrashed Serbia 5-0 to take a giant step towards sealing their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Harry Kane opened the scoring with a header while Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi all netted their first goals for their country in a fifth win out of five in Group K that all-but assured the Three Lions of top spot and place at the tournament in North America next summer. 

Kane and Tuchel warned of the hostile reception England would be on the receiving end of, but they took the game to the hosts from the off. Anthony Gordon had two efforts saved by Djordje Petrovic and Kane missed a chance from close range, but the pressure soon told and England led in the 33rd minute when Kane, taking advantage of some very slack defending from a corner, headed Declan Rice’s out-swinging delivery in.

A wonderful second goal followed two minutes later, the best of the Tuchel era. The move began with Jordan Pickford finding Reece  James, and Madueke feeding Elliot Anderson, whose pass back towards the Arsenal winger was helped on by a marvellous flick from Morgan Rogers, which allowed Madueke to bulldoze his way through the area before nonchalantly dinking the ball over Petrovic.

England had an invitation to sit back and protect their lead but instead went looking for more goals in the second half. The third arrived when the ever-lively Gordon collected a short free-kick and went for goal. Petrovic could only push the ball towards the danger zone where three players had gathered and Konsa eventually converted. 

Guehi then got in on the act and bundled in a fourth after Nikola Milenkovic had been sent off while substitute Marcus Rashford rounded off a dream night by bagging a late penalty.

GOAL rates England’s players from the Rajko Mitic Stadium…