England conducted a commanding and dominating performance over Serbia on Tuesday night, running out 5-0 victors.
It was the first home defeat for Serbia in two years. They hadn't conceded a goal in qualifying before England came to Belgrade. The Three Lions' clean sheet record during qualifying remains intact though.
Harry Kane kicked off the goals for England, with a pinpoint header from a corner. Noni Madueke, who was brilliant again on the night, grabbed a second following a superb flick from Morgan Rogers, with the Arsenal winger lifting the ball over Dorde Petrovic in the Serbian net.
Centre-back paring Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa also got on the scoresheet, nicking goals after set pieces, while Barcelona's Marcus Rashford cooly slotted a penalty home three minutes from time to secure the thrashing.
With that being said, here's three things we learned from the clash.
Thomas Tuchel is tinkering less - it’s working
England conducted a commanding and dominating performance over Serbia on Tuesday night, running out 5-0 victors
|REUTERS
Sir Gareth Southgate’s reign saw a lot of tinkering during international breaks, but Tuchel is acting differently.
His thinking is clear, and he has his players who will play a part. Clearly, the German fancies Noni Madueke, who has impressed during the break, and Elliott Anderson; both have started in each of the matches over the past week.
Left-back, left-wing and the No10 position remain up for grabs, and that is where fans have seen the switches. Elsewhere, Tuchel knows the players he fancies, and he is keeping them there.
Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers impressed for Thomas Tuchel's side
|REUTERS
Of course, there are injuries to Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham - three players that would undoubtedly feature. But Madueke is unquestionably Saka’s understudy, at club and international level, with Marc Guehi and Reece James clearly favoured at the back.
Stalwarts Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford have also featured in both games, keeping the spine of the team intact.
It’s less tinkering, less uncertainty, more stability; the performances are telling. Much of the team played against both Serbia and Andorra, and it shows. England were dominant and looked like a team that understood each other - that comes from time together on the pitch.
Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi could be the centre-back partnership moving forward
Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa both got on the scoresheet for England
|REUTERS
It is the seventh time Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa have started together in an England shirt - six wins and five clean sheets suggest it is somewhat of a formidable partnership.
While it is just the second time the pair have played together under Tuchel, they look comfortable and seemingly favoured by the former Chelsea boss.
Harry Maguire may have something to say about it. John Stones may too, as will Dan Burn, who has featured under Tuchel. But Maguire and Stones have both struggled with injury issues; with the Manchester City defender even withdrawing from the squad this time around.
Both defenders are young but boast vast experience in both the England squad and the Premier League. Both grabbed a goal on the night, too.
Long term, many fans would have seen this partnership coming. It may have come sooner than many thought.
Tino Livramento could be staking his claim for the left-back position
Tino Livramento had another solid display at full-back
|REUTERS
England’s left-back position has been up for grabs for some years. Keiran Trippier often played there under Southgate, Luke Shaw has had his injury woes and finds himself playing in a back three at club level, and Myles Lewis-Skelly was left out of Tuchel’s squad for Serbia altogether.
Tino Livramento has been a mainstay at Newcastle, on either side, during their run for a second Champions League campaign in three years. The 22-year-old is tidy in possession, solid defensively and rarely caught out.
While Serbia offered little threat on the night, Livramento nullified any down his side and kept the ball ticking over nicely. Lewis-Skelly offers something very different, the ability to drive centrally with the ball, but doesn’t necessarily promise the same defensive support, and Tuchel may appreciate the stability at the back.
With the Arsenal left-back being left out of the squad altogether, it does raise questions over whether he sees the 18-year-old as his starting left-back, although he has started in four of Tuchel’s six England matches.
They are both great options for the German, but Livramento’s comfortable and commanding performance on Tuesday will have done himself no harm in Tuchel’s mind.