Manager Thomas Tuchel said he liked England’s “hard” and “tense” 2-0 win over Serbia and said it could be a crucial 90 minutes in their plans for the World Cup.
The absence of away supporters didn’t help the atmosphere in the qualifiers, and the Wembley supporters weren’t exactly captured throughout the match. But on the pitch, there were further signals about how Tuchel’s England are looking at next summer’s World Cup.
But still, questions remain – and big ones, given the talent of the players who may be left at home…
Important: Who is England’s number 10?
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Rob Dorsett and Pete Smith discuss the key points of England’s 2-0 win over Serbia, where Thomas Tuchel kept his word and named a surprising starting XI
There was a surprise on the team sheet on Thursday, with Morgan Rodgers retaining his place in 10th despite the return of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to the England squad.
The Aston Villa ace has given momentum to England’s slow start and has clearly taken a liking to Tuchel after producing a number of eye-catching performances in the role this autumn. However, this was not his most impactful display.
Bellingham replaced him an hour later and looked like a man with a point to prove. There were some mistakes in his play, but he was instrumental in a flurry of late chances, opening up space for the Real Madrid star as Serbia searched for the goals they needed to qualify for the World Cup. He definitely completed the night’s more impressive highlight reel.
Tuchel’s high-profile comments about Bellingham over the past six months have added to the narrative surrounding their relationship. But his return seems inevitable… although Cole Palmer’s return to fitness would add further complexity to the equation.
Whether Foden is still a contender for the position is another question…
Is Foden now back-up to Kane at number nine?
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After the win over Serbia, England manager Thomas Tuchel praised Phil Foden’s performance since his return to action.
Given how deep Harry Kane dropped to build up the play against Serbia, some may argue whether England are playing as a number nine anymore, and it is certainly the case that Foden was acting as a false number nine in the final half-hour.
Tuchel wants Manchester City’s technicians, who are “surrounded by traffic” in central areas, to create connections with short, clever passes.
In his post-match press conference, Tuchel was curt when asked if Foden could replace Kane, but Tuchel said the 25-year-old could be the England captain’s “accomplice” and fill in for Kane when he gets tired or if something else is needed to open up the defence.
While this is an interesting development, it may not be a positive development for Ollie Watkins, Danny Welbeck, Ivan Toney or any other No. 9 players who were hoping to replace Kane at the World Cup. Tuchel named Kane as the team’s only striker. Foden will probably be the replacement.
Left side spot available
Anthony Gordon or Marcus Rashford? That’s the question on the left, despite Eberechi Eze’s stunning goal at Wembley. Eze may be able to keep his role as an impact player from the bench, but the starting spot in that position is likely to be a battle between Gordon, who performed well under Tuchel, and Rashford, who is in good form.
Tuchel will likely alternate between Gordon and Rashford, depending on who England face at the World Cup. But it certainly feels like Jack Grealish and the rest of the left have an almost impossible task to get rid of these two by next summer.
Man City’s Nico O’Reilly makes his England debut against Serbia
Behind them, left-back feels like a more open competition. Earlier this year, it was Miles Lewis-Skelly. The Arsenal man is currently lacking game time for the club, so Man City’s Nico O’Reilly has taken his place, with manager Tuchel giving him a “fantastic” debut. O’Reilly wouldn’t look out of place in a Three Lions shirt.
Jed Spence and Reece James will be in their usual right-back roles on Thursday, but they are among a list of other options including Newcastle trio Dan Byrne, Tino Libramento and Lewis Hall. Watch this space.
Is Anderson confirmed as a defensive midfielder?
Elliott Anderson has impressed in his deep midfield role in recent international matches
The big winner of the fall international tournament was Elliott Anderson. The Nottingham Forest midfielder made the step up to international football look very easy, emerging almost immediately as the player England desperately needed in a deeper position than Declan Rice.
He impressed again against Serbia with his sharp passing and clean sheet. And although Adam Wharton was only given five minutes as a substitute, making his first appearance under Tuchel, there is a silver lining for Anderson.
Notably, Declan Rice was replaced by Jordan Henderson, with Tuchel seemingly expected to replace Anderson in the number eight role.
However, the team selection in Albania on Sunday will be interesting. Could Wharton’s brief absence at Wembley be connected to plans for a bigger role for Wharton at Tirana? Now appears to be the moment when Tuchel has to look at Crystal Palace’s star for himself.
The call-up of Alex Scott may also be a sign that Tuchel has not fully included Anderson. Bournemouth’s Scot was left out of the matchday squad on Thursday, but his inclusion in camp shows Tuchel is still weighing his options.
This is a smart move in case something happens to Anderson. And, as Tuchel said in his pre-match media appearance, form and fitness could still influence his plans. But these ideas are now taking shape, and there doesn’t seem to be much room for outsiders to contest.
