England manager Thomas Tuchel pulled off a masterstroke at Wembley, giving his team a 2-0 win over Serbia in a World Cup qualifier that had all the makings of a dull, low-stakes affair. But from the moment England took the lead through Bukayo Saka's volleyed finish on 28 minutes, it was clear that something special was brewing under Tuchel's leadership.
The German manager has been accused of being an iconoclast and a destroyer of worlds, but in this case, he proved to be a visionary. By selecting Jude Bellingham as the lone striker and Phil Foden as his attacking partner, Tuchel created a deadly duo that left Serbia's defense reeling.
Bellingham's presence at Wembley was met with widespread anticipation, but it seemed more like a celebrity appearance than an actual football match. The Manchester City midfielder has been touted as one of the best young players in England, but his role at international level is still far from clear-cut.
Tuchel's solution to this problem was to play Bellingham on the right side, where he could use his pace and skill to terrorize Serbia's full-backs. And when he did receive the ball, Bellingham looked anything but out of place, gliding past defenders with ease before delivering a pinpoint pass that found Foden in acres of space.
Foden, meanwhile, was a revelation at false 9. The Manchester City midfielder is often criticized for his inability to finish chances from close range, but against Serbia, he showed that he has the composure and vision to unlock even the most solid defenses.
The partnership between Bellingham and Foden proved to be the difference-maker in this drab encounter, with Eberechi Eze scoring a stunning goal in between them. Morgan Rogers was also impressive at man-of-the-match price, controlling the tempo of the game and causing problems for Serbia's defense.
Tuchel's tactics were designed to exploit England's strength - their creativity and flair - rather than trying to dominate possession or bully their opponents into submission. And it worked to devastating effect.
The selection process has always been a contentious issue under Tuchel, but in this case, it was clear that the manager knows exactly what he is doing. Bellingham may have started on the right side, but his influence on the game was felt across the pitch.
It's also worth noting that there are other bright sparks emerging in England's squad, with Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson showing flashes of promise in midfield. And when Cole Palmer becomes available, he could prove to be the missing piece in Tuchel's puzzle.
For now, though, England are on a roll, and their ruthless efficiency is sending shockwaves through international football. With Tuchel at the helm, there can be no doubt about what they will do next.
The German manager has been accused of being an iconoclast and a destroyer of worlds, but in this case, he proved to be a visionary. By selecting Jude Bellingham as the lone striker and Phil Foden as his attacking partner, Tuchel created a deadly duo that left Serbia's defense reeling.
Bellingham's presence at Wembley was met with widespread anticipation, but it seemed more like a celebrity appearance than an actual football match. The Manchester City midfielder has been touted as one of the best young players in England, but his role at international level is still far from clear-cut.
Tuchel's solution to this problem was to play Bellingham on the right side, where he could use his pace and skill to terrorize Serbia's full-backs. And when he did receive the ball, Bellingham looked anything but out of place, gliding past defenders with ease before delivering a pinpoint pass that found Foden in acres of space.
Foden, meanwhile, was a revelation at false 9. The Manchester City midfielder is often criticized for his inability to finish chances from close range, but against Serbia, he showed that he has the composure and vision to unlock even the most solid defenses.
The partnership between Bellingham and Foden proved to be the difference-maker in this drab encounter, with Eberechi Eze scoring a stunning goal in between them. Morgan Rogers was also impressive at man-of-the-match price, controlling the tempo of the game and causing problems for Serbia's defense.
Tuchel's tactics were designed to exploit England's strength - their creativity and flair - rather than trying to dominate possession or bully their opponents into submission. And it worked to devastating effect.
The selection process has always been a contentious issue under Tuchel, but in this case, it was clear that the manager knows exactly what he is doing. Bellingham may have started on the right side, but his influence on the game was felt across the pitch.
It's also worth noting that there are other bright sparks emerging in England's squad, with Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson showing flashes of promise in midfield. And when Cole Palmer becomes available, he could prove to be the missing piece in Tuchel's puzzle.
For now, though, England are on a roll, and their ruthless efficiency is sending shockwaves through international football. With Tuchel at the helm, there can be no doubt about what they will do next.
. Bellingham and Foden's partnership is definitely one to watch, but it raises questions about the team's overall depth. Can they replicate this form consistently? And what about the pressure on these players as they take on bigger opponents? 
️ England's squad looks stacked, but can they handle the heat when it comes to high-stakes matches? 
! He's really getting the best out of his squad and it's clear he knows how to set them up for success. That Bukayo Saka goal was a highlight reel moment 
! I'm also loving Phil Foden's performance at false 9, it's like we've never seen him play before 
. And Morgan Rogers, man, he's like a different player out there 
. England's squad has so much depth and talent, it's exciting to think about what the future holds 
. Can't wait for Cole Palmer to join the party soon! 
he knows exactly how to get the best out of his team and make them dominant on the pitch 
it's all about playing to each other's strengths, like phil foden as a target man 
can't wait to see what they do next 
- giving Jude Bellingham the freedom to terrorize those full-backs was pure genius! And Foden's performance as a false 9? Forget about it, he was like a different player altogether 
. I mean, we've all seen him struggle with finishing, but against Serbia, he showed us what he's truly capable of. Plus, Eze's goal and Morgan Rogers' impact were huge! It just goes to show that England have the creativity and flair to take on anyone 
... I was worried when Tuchel chose Bellingham as the lone striker, but it worked like a charm! And wow, what a goal from Eberechi Eze 
. i mean, using bukayo saka as a striker and making jude bellingham play on the right is straight fire 
. maybe we should be studying his moves instead of watching football tutorials 
.
. can't wait to see how far england goes under tuchel's guidance 
and then BAM! 2-0 and England's on fire 
tuchel's tactics are all about exploiting their creativity and flair rather than bogging them down with possession football 
and let's not forget eberechi eze's stunning goal 
... now let's see them take it to the next level! 
. And let's give it up for Bellingham and Foden - that duo is UNSTOPPABLE 