England manager Thomas Tuchel has praised the collective strength of his squad after a 2-0 victory over Serbia at Wembley, a result that extends the team's flawless World Cup qualification campaign.
Super Subs Make the Difference
The deadlock was broken in the first half by Bukayo Saka, who volleyed home after a shot from debutant Nico O'Reilly took a fortunate deflection into his path. The game was sealed in the 90th minute by Eberechi Eze, who finished a brilliant move after coming on as a substitute.
The decisive goal was a showcase of England's bench strength, involving fellow substitutes Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham. This victory marks England's seventh consecutive win in qualification without conceding a single goal, a formidable record even with their place at next year's tournament already secured.
Tuchel's Philosophy: Building a Team, Not Just an XI
In his post-match comments, Tuchel was quick to shift the focus from a starting eleven to the entire group. He emphasised the importance of players buying into the team ethos, especially when they are accustomed to starring roles at their clubs.
"This is not about building a starting 11, it's about building a team," said the head coach. "They're all big players at their club, they're all used to playing, they're all disappointed [to be on the bench]. This is normal, but they buy into this idea of building a team."
Tuchel stressed that this selfless attitude is non-negotiable for success. "Only if we're a strong group who can put the ego behind, who can put the disappointment behind and then contribute... that's the only way. And I like it because it's natural for this team."
Foden Shines in New Role
One of the standout performers was Phil Foden, who entered the fray in a 65th-minute quadruple substitution that also saw captain Harry Kane depart. The Manchester City playmaker was deployed in a false nine role and impressed with his confidence and creativity.
Tuchel expressed his excitement about Foden's potential in the set-up, noting his immediate impact. "You just see he's full of confidence," Tuchel said. "I think in matches where we need to unlock a deep opponent, he can always be a choice."
With the World Cup on the horizon, this professional performance and the clear depth of talent at his disposal gives Tuchel the kind of selection headaches most managers dream of.
