England returned to action on Thursday night in their penultimate fixture of World Cup qualifying. The Three Lions hosted Serbia, safe in the knowledge that last month’s 5-0 rout of Latvia saw them seal their place at next summer’s tournament in North America with two games to spare. Thomas Tuchel’s side were the first European nation to book a finals spot as they maintained their 100 per cent record in Group K that now reads seven wins from seven with 20 goals scored and still none conceded.
Tuchel was eager to avoid any complacency or drop off in intensity after back-to-back 5-0 away wins and a 3-0 home friendly victory over Wales, after which he criticised the atmosphere and faced some sarcastic chants from the travelling supporters in Riga. Nico O’Reilly made his senior England debut on Thursday, with Morgan Rogers getting the nod at No10 and the likes of the returning Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden both impressing off the bench, alongside Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal team-mates Bukayo Saka and Eze both netted brilliant goals to bring an end to Serbia’s World Cup hopes in their first game under new head coach Veljko Paunovic, with Albania now guaranteed a play-off spot after being Andorra. Follow England vs Serbia live below!
England vs Serbia highlights
- GOAL! Lively Eze wraps up win late on
- GOAL! Saka volleys England into first-half lead
England 2-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:48 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
A comfortable night's work for England, in the end.
Saka and Eze with the goals, which were both great finishes.
Bench impact a real plus, they raised the tempo for the final 25 minutes.
England 2-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:42 , George FloodFull-time
Seven wins from seven in qualifying now for ruthless England, who finish their campaign against Albania in Tirana on Sunday.
Another defeat for Serbia coupled with Albania’s 1-0 win over Andorra ends their World Cup play-off hopes.
England 2-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:42 , George Flood94 mins: England are finishing with a real flourish at Wembley as Bellingham and Eze nearly combine to devastating effect.
Their attacking depth really is something to be reckoned with.
Eze, Foden and Bellingham have all been excellent off the bench tonight.
England 2-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:41 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
As fine a finish as you're ever going to get in that position.
Stunning strike from Eze, who just came onto the Foden pass with one touch. Sublime.
GOAL! England 2-0 Serbia | Eberechi Eze 90'
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:37 , George Flood90 mins: Game, set and match!
Into four minutes of added time as Foden picks up the ball in the centre circle and races forward, teeing up Eze for a wonderful first-time finish that curls beautifully into the top corner.
Serbia and Paunovic are furious - they feel there was a foul in the build-up from Bellingham on Pavlovic.
Yellow card for Paunovic.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:37 , George Flood88 mins: Alert goalkeeping from Pickford to smother Konsa’s deflection after a long ball from Serbia had looked to set Radonjic away.
England are still looking stretched at times here.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:36 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
England's ridiculous strength in depth on show. Bellingham, Eze and Foden all lively off the bench.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:35 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
A second cap for Adam Wharton. I'm pretty sure there will be one or two Crystal Palace fans who feel it's been a long time coming. 17 months after the first.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:34 , George Flood85 mins: Serbia’s late resurgence is almost doused completely as Foden’s smart lofted pass is diverted goalwards by Eze, with Rajkovic doing just enough to send it onto the crossbar.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:32 , George Flood83 mins: England have got a bit sloppy late on as resurgent Serbia fashion another chance and Vlahovic rifles over.
Wharton is coming on for Anderson. Kostic into the book.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:28 , George Flood80 mins: A huge chance for Serbia to level as we enter the final 10 minutes at Wembley.
It’s not too different from Saka’s goal as a deflected Jovic strike loops into the path of Samardzic, who steers his volley wide of the back post with Pickford at full stretch.
The offside flag is up.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:26 , George Flood78 mins: England are still looking far more likely to double their lead here, with Anderson twice almost getting sights of goal - the second after a deflected effort by the lively Foden.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:24 , George Flood76 mins: Serbia have to go for this with Albania’s current result against Andorra meaning that their World Cup hopes are over if they lose here.
Samardzic, Grujic, Radonjic and Jovic have all been sent on by Paunovic.
Gudelj, Lukic, Terzic and Zivkovic head off.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:22 , George Flood74 mins: England have been playing with so much pace and verve since those flurry of changes.
An unmarked Foden steers a header just wide of the near post.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:18 , George Flood69 mins: Serbia are looking really tired now in the face of England’s talented fresh legs.
Bellingham links up well with James, who delivers a special back heel before the former’s cross is cleared behind before Eze can tap home.
Konsa heads wide from the corner.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:14 , George Flood67 mins: England are already playing with an energy boost after those changes with Eze teeing up Anderson with a fine pass.
Albania have gone 1-0 up in Andorra, which would seal them a play-off place and end Serbia’s qualification hopes if these results hold.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:13 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
Phil Foden getting a go up front. This could be fun.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:13 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
Serbia are having a few cracks into the England final third of late, pushing for their leveller.
But fresh legs should help England. Will be fascinating to see the experiment here of Foden at false nine.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:11 , George Flood63 mins: Konsa is fortunate to win a free-kick after a slight nudge over by Kostic.
Tuchel is now ringing the changes as Bellingham, Foden, Eze and Jordan Henderson all come on at once, the latter taking the captain’s armband.
Off go Rice, Rogers, Kane and Rashford.
Foden as the false nine? Great reception for the returning Bellingham.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:09 , George Flood60 mins: Rashford still isn’t moving too well and may have signalled to the bench that he needs to come off.
England with a mix-up at the back and Serbia profit to launch their best attack of the night so far, with Kostic setting up Vlahovic for an audacious flick that goes wide of the back post.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:05 , George Flood58 mins: Rashford looks to test Rajkovic again before a painful clash of knees with the defender as he tries to let fly from distance.
That clearly hurt, but he should shrug it off.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:03 , George Flood56 mins: A slick move by England winds up with the dangerous Rogers being stopped inside the box.
Kane was down on his haunches a few minutes ago but has now just raced back to make a superb sliding challenge on Terzic to thwart a rare Serbia attack.
He’s been everywhere tonight, dropping deep plenty to link up these England attacks.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:01 , George Flood54 mins: Rajkovic has looked really uncertain in goal for Serbia tonight and is fortunate to win a free-kick after being chased down by Rogers.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:59 , George Flood53 mins: Rashford is relishing the chance to run at Serbia right-back Mimovic at every opportunity tonight, but this time the Pafos defender does well to deflect the ball off him for a goal kick.
O’Reilly can’t get a shot on target and the likes of Bellingham and Foden are now warming up for England down the Wembley touchline.
How long until Tuchel looks to his bench?
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:57 , George Flood50 mins: Rashford again cuts in nicely off the England left and takes on two defenders before his low attempt is inadvertently deflected behind for a goal kick off Kane.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:54 , George Flood47 mins: Serbia give up a cheap corner early in the second half but wind up with a free-kick.
England are straight onto the front foot here and piling on the pressure.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:51 , George FloodBack underway at Wembley.
No changes from England just yet, so I presume whatever issue seemed to be ailing Saka after scoring has been fixed by his change of footwear.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:44 , George FloodA top finish from Saka, who loves scoring belting goals at Wembley.
Bukayo SAKA! 🏴⚽️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 13, 2025
It's a BRILLIANT finish from the Arsenal man 💥#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | @England pic.twitter.com/T7glMUkNsH
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:42 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
A pretty flat game. Saka's goal the highlight and England have been better since then, moving from second to third gear.
Serbia have created very little and had just one shot on target so far.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:36 , George FloodHalf-time
Saka's superb volley is the difference at the break at a wet Wembley.
Not the most entertaining 45 minutes, but England have had their chances with Rashford and Rogers both impressing.
Tuchel will be expecting them to kick on after the break.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:36 , George Flood48 mins: Serbia force a late first-half corner that is seen away easily at the front post by O’Reilly.
The PA announcer hears a rogue whistle and thinks it’s half-time!
Play goes on for a few more seconds until referee Ivan Kruzliak does finally blow for the interval.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:34 , George Flood45 mins: Into three minutes of added time as Rogers glances James’ pinpoint cross agonisingly wide of the back post.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:33 , George Flood44 mins: A busy end to the half as England are forced onto the defensive following another set-piece, but Pickford comes out to do just about enough before Terzic has a shot blocked.
England are swiftly back on the attack and Rashford gets the better of his man before slightly overhitting a ball for Rice, who goes down under the challenge of Rajkovic.
No penalty, despite the appeals from the home fans.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:31 , George Flood41 mins: Another big chance for England from the resulting corner, but Kane heads into the ground and over at the back post.
Rashford is back trying to torment Serbia down that left flank, but this time Mimovic battles back to earn a free-kick.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:29 , George Flood39 mins: Serbia briefly threaten from a set-piece before normal order is quickly restored and Rashford releases O’Reilly, whose effort is turned behind by substitute Stankovic.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:28 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
It feels a lot like this game is being played in third gear, which isn't a surprise given that there is nothing on the line.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:25 , George Flood35 mins: Saka goes over for a change of boots during the latest break in play.
Ilic is helped off around the pitch as he’s replaced by Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:23 , George Flood33 mins: Serbia are under huge pressure now as the confident Rashford nutmegs Mimovic inside the box before Pavlovic comes over to clear.
Here comes Rashford again as he shoots straight at Rajkovic, with play then stopped immediately due to a nasty-looking knee injury sustained by Ivan Ilic.
England 1-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:20 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
Outstanding finishes in successive Wembley games for England by Bukayo Saka.
That's a stylish finish in a game that had really lacked quality.
GOAL! England 1-0 Serbia | Bukayo Saka 28'
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:16 , George Flood28 mins: Deadlock broken in style at Wembley!
Rice’s free-kick is punched away poorly by Rajkovic straight to O’Reilly, whose blocked effort falls perfectly for Saka to dispatch brilliantly on the volley into the far corner.
Superb goal. But is he now injured?
Looked like he was asking to come off with that celebration and he isn’t moving too well...
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:16 , George Flood27 mins: Kane is dropping deep to help knit the play together for England, with Saka’s latest drive blocked by Pavlovic.
But the hosts now have a free-kick in a dangerous position out right after a needless foul.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:13 , George Flood25 mins: Rice with his first real forward thrust of the night into that left channel as he flicks inside to Rashford, whose curling first-time effort is hit straight at Rajkovic.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:12 , George Flood24 mins: Pickford is back on his feet and looks fine to continue, as he intimated initially to referee Ivan Kruzliak.
Dean Henderson stays where he is for now.
James Trafford is the other goalkeeper on the England bench tonight, having replaced the injured Nick Pope in the squad this week.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:10 , George Flood22 mins: A dismal corner from Rice as his low daisy-cutter is easily cleared.
England have a problem now as Pickford has gone down rubbing his left thigh.
He will receive treatment as his England team-mates take the chance to go over en masse to receive some instructions from Tuchel.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:08 , George Flood20 mins: Better from England now as they finally sustain some pressure, but Anderson’s deep cross intended for Rashford is seen away.
They quickly reset and Saka’s ball for Rogers is deflected behind for a corner.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:05 , George Flood18 mins: Kane picks out Saka with a lovely pass as the Arsenal man then cuts inside, leans back and curls well over the crossbar.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:04 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
Not at 15 minutes yet, and two paper aeroplanes have already landed in the press box.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:03 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
Slightly better from England there, a nicely knitted-together move.
Didn't come to anything but the first time they've shown patience in possession. Slow start overall, though.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:02 , George Flood14 mins: Serbia captain Kostic goes down after a foul by James but is eventually helped to his feet and won’t need treatment.
It’s been a quiet opening quarter of an hour at a subdued and wet Wembley, in stark contrast to last month’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales in which they were already 2-0 up by this time.
Credit to Serbia’s organisation.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:00 , George Flood13 mins: James has a hopeful shot blocked and England come again after a fine sliding challenge by Stones.
Rogers is at the heart of everything in attack at the moment but a ball intended for Kane fails to pick out the Three Lions captain and Serbia have a pressure-relieving goal kick.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:58 , George Flood11 mins: A lovely switched pass from Rogers to Rashford, who can’t work the space for a long-distance shot.
He finds James, with Rogers and Saka then exchanging passes in style before the ball loops up off a block and is gathered cleanly by Serbian goalkeeper Rajkovic.
Fine pass and footwork from Rogers.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:56 , George Flood8 mins: England almost release Saka down their right channel, but Terzic deals with the danger.
Rashford then tries some nifty skill to get past Mimovic, who won’t be fooled.
New-look Serbia are proving stubborn so far in their low block, far more organised than we saw in Belgrade in September.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:53 , George Flood5 mins: Chaos in that England six-yard box as both sets of players receive an early warning from the referee.
Serbia’s cross from their short corner is overhit before Saka makes a tidy block to thwart the latest danger.
Silent at Wembley at the moment, which won’t please Tuchel.
But you’ve got to take the conditions into account.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:51 , George Flood3 mins: Patient stuff from England early on, until they are almost caught out on the break as Konsa has to get across and make a key block to deny Vlahovic after the Juventus frontman was sent chasing a long ball into that right channel.
The first corner is seen behind by Konsa.
England 0-0 Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:49 , George FloodSlovakia’s Ivan Kruzliak is the referee tonight, with Clay Ruperti of the Netherlands on VAR duty.
England are all in white, with Serbia decked out in all-blue.
The rain is falling very heavily still at Wembley, where England are already dominating possession in the difficult conditions.
England vs Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:47 , George FloodKICK-OFF
Underway at a wet Wembley.
Will already-qualified England maintain their 100 per cent record against a Serbia team showing so many changes to the one thrashed 5-0 in Belgrade in September?
Time to find out...
Here come the teams
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:43 , George FloodHere come the teams at Wembley, where the damp conditions have not stopped the usual pre-match pyrotechnics.
The players line up for the national anthems, with Serbia up first.
Few Serbia fans at Wembley
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:41 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
Quite the contrast between tonight's away end and the one against Wales last month.
I can count 11 fans in the away end tonight, with the Serbian FA refusing to sell tickets.
Worth noting that police were forced to intervene when Serbia hosted England in September.
Rain falling before kick-off
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:38 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
Teeming down with rain here at Wembley, ahead of England's final competitive home game before the World Cup.
The national stadium slowly but surely filling up on what is a surprisingly mild evening.
Final preparations at Wembley
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:33 , George FloodFinal preparations at a soggy Wembley, where Tuchel will be looking for more sustained noise after his strong criticism of the atmosphere during last month’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales.
The travelling England fans in Riga responded to those comments with some witty early retorts that were taken in good spirits by the England manager.
Some interesting stuff in here from Tuchel’s pre-match interview with ITV at Wembley, where the rain is falling steadily ahead of kick-off.
He will not be drawn any further on the topic of potentially staying on as England boss after the World Cup...
"You don't want to be an England manager on the touchline with an umbrella!" 😅
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 13, 2025
Tuchel on Foden, surprises, selection and Welbeck 🏴#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | @markpougatch | @IanWright0 pic.twitter.com/K7ZKieSBE6
Not the time for Tuchel to experiment
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:12 , George FloodHere’s more from Standard Sport’s Simon Collings and Dom Smith as they react to that England team news at Wembley...
🗣️ "A big show of faith in Morgan Rogers."@sr_collings and @MrDomSmith react to that England team news, with Jude Bellingham only on the bench
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) November 13, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/mqUDXDKe3i#ENGSRB | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/nx5nAeEZEx
New Serbia boss Paunovic rings changes in first game
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:02 , George FloodNew Serbia boss Veljko Paunovic makes seven changes to the Serbia team who lost 1-0 at home to Albania last month, dealing a huge blow to their play-off hopes and leading to the resignation of former head coach Dragan Stojkovic.
Predrag Rajkovic replaces Bournemouth’s Djordje Petrovic in goal, while captain Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest returns in defence after his dismissal in the 5-0 rout by England in Belgrade in September.
Aleksa Terzic, Ognjen Mimovic, Ivan Ilic, Nemanja Gudelj and Fulham’s Sasa Lukic also come in, with Dusan Vlahovic leading the line alone in the absence of the injured Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Serbia lineup
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:48 , George FloodSerbia XI: Rajkovic, Pavlovic, Milenkovic, Terzic, Mimovic, Ivan Ilic, Gudelj, Lukic, Kostic, Zivkovic, Vlahovic
Subs: Petrovic, Grujic, Radonjic, Jovic, Katai, Veljkovic, Milosavljevic, Erakovic, Luka Ilic, Stankovic, Samardzic, Veljko Ilic
Tuchel shows faith in Morgan Rogers
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:47 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Wembley
Tuchel said he was not going to experiment - and he has been true to his word.
That is a strong England team, and a real show of faith in Morgan Rogers.
O'Reilly makes England debut as Rogers preferred to Bellingham
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:38 , George FloodSo the England lineup is exactly as reported by the BBC a few hours ago.
Nico O’Reilly makes his senior international debut at left-back, with Morgan Rogers preferred to Jude Bellingham as the starting No10 and Marcus Rashford replacing the injured Anthony Gordon.
First-time call-up Alex Scott misses out on the squad as expected, along with the injured Marc Guehi.
England lineup
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:23 , George FloodEngland XI: Pickford, James, Stones, Konsa, O'Reilly, Rice, Anderson, Saka, Rogers, Rashford, Kane
Subs: Chalobah, J Henderson, Bellingham, Burn, D Henderson, Spence, Wharton, Foden, Eze, Bowen, Trafford, Quansah
Tuchel adds jeopardy to England dead-rubbers on road to World Cup
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:15 , George FloodEngland players have been wearing special shoes this week to aid their focus, but nothing will sharpen minds more than Thomas Tuchel’s words, writes Simon Collings.
Tuchel made it clear on Wednesday that he will not follow the lead of his predecessors by crowbarring all the best players into the team at the expense of its structure.
The England boss has, for example, ruled out Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden all starting together in his 4-2-3-1 formation.
Instead, at least one of them will have to settle for a spot on the bench, starting with Thursday’s clash against Serbia at Wembley.
Read the full match preview here
How England are expected to line up
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:03 , George FloodAccording to the BBC, Jordan Pickford is in goal for England as usual tonight with senior debutant Nico O’Reilly expected to be joined in defence by Reece James, Ezri Konsa and John Stones.
The midfield pivot of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson is set to remain unchanged, with Marcus Rashford expected to join Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka in support of lone frontman Harry Kane.
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is said to miss out on the matchday squad after his maiden senior call-up, along with the injured Marc Guehi.
Predicted England XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Rogers, Rashford; Kane
Tuchel: Bellingham, Foden and Kane cannot play in same England XI
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:44 , George FloodThere was plenty to dissect from Thomas Tuchel’s pre-Serbia press conference held at Hotspur Way on Thursday, including the England boss stating his belief that Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane cannot all play in the same team.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play,” he said.
"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions.
“We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine.
"Especially in the number 10 position if you think about Phil who could play there, if you think about Jude, you think about Morgan Rogers, who played fantastic for us in this position.
"You have Cole Palmer, you have Morgan Gibbs-White, so there's a lot, a lot of players, and there's the chance that we will not take everyone.
"Simply to... not because we don't like it, not because they don't individually deserve it, but we will always do what's best for the team, we will always do what's best for winning.
"We will always do what's best for balance and we will try to keep the clarity, even if means that we have to take tough decisions.
"We take tough decisions in any camp, and this will not change when we go to a tournament."
England vs Serbia prediction
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:33 , George FloodWhile it’s certainly not always been thrilling, England have absolutely breezed through qualifying to become the first European nation to book their place in the 2026 World Cup finals.
The Three Lions have added a real ruthless edge of late with 13 goals scored in their last three matches and have rarely come close to conceding any in reply.
Motivation should remain high in the home camp despite qualifying with two games to spare, with not much time left for players to prove to Thomas Tuchel that they are worthy of a seat on the plane.
It’s been a disappointing campaign for Serbia, who will hope for the cliched new manager bounce as they bid to put pressure on Albania in the race for a play-off berth.
It’s hard to see past another comfortable England win here, albeit potentially more low-key than their last couple of away thrashings.
England to win, 2-0.
Serbia team news
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:30 , George FloodSerbia’s hopes of pulling off a shock win at Wembley to try and keep pace with an Albania team that will be expected to beat Andorra tonight are hamstrung by the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The experienced former Newcastle and Fulham striker was omitted from Veljko Paunovic’s first squad due to an injury sustained in club action with Qatari side Al Rayyan.
Either Dusan Vlahovic or Luka Jovic will lead the attack without Mitrovic.
Serbia are captained by Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic, with their squad also including Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic and Bournemouth teenager Veljko Milosavljevic.
England team news
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:23 , George FloodThe recalled Jude Bellingham has to make do with a place on the England bench tonight, according to the latest reports from BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel.
Morgan Rogers - who signed a new long-term contract at Aston Villa this week - is expected to start at No10 again after proving his fitness following a minor hamstring issue.
Manchester City left-back Nico O’Reilly will reportedly make his senior Three Lions debut in defence, with Marcus Rashford replacing the injured Anthony Gordon in attack.
Ezri Konsa and John Stones should be the centre-back pairing with Marc Guehi out with a foot injury.
How to watch England vs Serbia
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:17 , George FloodTV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be televised live and free-to-air on ITV. Coverage starts on ITV1 at 7pm GMT.
Live stream: You can also watch the match live online via the ITVX app and website, which is free with a registration.
England vs Serbia live
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:14 , George FloodEngland are back at Wembley tonight as they face Serbia in their penultimate qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The Three Lions secured their place at next summer’s finals in North America with two games to spare after another 5-0 rout in Latvia last month that maintained their 100 per cent qualifying record, but Thomas Tuchel will not accept any dip in momentum or loss of focus as his players desperately seek to prove that they are worthy of a place on the plane.
Serbia, meanwhile, are battling rivals Albania for a play-off spot in Group K and will hope for a swift new manager bounce under former Reading boss Veljko Paunovic this evening after a disappointing campaign thus far led to the exit of Dragan Stojkovic.
Kick-off tonight is at 7:45pm GMT, so stay tuned for match build-up, team news and live updates including expert analysis from Standard Sport’s England correspondents Simon Collings and Dom Smith at Wembley.
