Four talk points while England travel to Serbia in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match tonight.
Absence equal opportunities
Thomas Tuchel said in March that he knew around ’16 players’ who would be part of his team like England, as expected, the qualification of the World Cup for the next summer’s tournament. The September break, however, needs a recasting, with various securities excluded. Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and John Stones are all absent, which leads to opportunities for those who want to break into.
Noni Madueke produced a positive version against Andorra in the absence of Saka, although Jarrod Bowen will hope in the same role on Tuesday evening. In midfield there is an open battle for the most advanced role. Ebereechi Eze started at the weekend, while Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White are looking for an audition in Serbia in a position that Bellingham usually takes.
Will Anderson deserve another chance to shine?
Elliott Anderson was demonstrably headed after the 2-0 win over Andorra, with the midfielder of Nottingham Forest impressive on debut. After excel in the summer for the U-9-side at the European Championship, Anderson started the season in good shape. The statistics ensure good reading.
In the Premier League this season, the 22-year-old leads the competition for completed passes in the last third and stands in second place for completed steps, successful tackles, won ground matches, ball carries and progressive carry’s.
Elliot Anderson v Andorra 🏴👏
127 touches
114 passes
94% passing accuracy
34 goes in the last third part
7 duels won pic.twitter.com/u0kvdt5tjn– ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 6, 2025
A real all -rounder, the trip to Serbia Anderson could allow another audition to become England number six.
Kane -Critics return
It feels blasphemy to criticize Harry Kane, but there was no shortage of critics after the difficult victory of England over Andorra. Kane’s calm performance has again led to question marks about his role in England, despite the fact that he is a goal scorer of elite quality.
The 32-year-old has scored 91 goals in 100 games for Bayern Munich in the last two seasons, in addition to a record 73 in 108 caps for England. However, only nine of those goals were scored against countries that are currently arranged in the top 10 of FIFA.
Harry Kane admits that some of the world cup qualifications of England have recently been frustrating for both the players and the supporters 😕 pic.twitter.com/I3V0vchun7
– Match of the day (@bbcmotd) September 8, 2025
Serbia, although in 32nd place in FIFA ranking, will offer a strict test. The side of Dragan Stojković has only admitted once in their last six internationals, while the powerful Strahinja Pavlović and Nikola Milenkovic will make life uncomfortable for the captain of England.
A more difficult test for Dan Burn
Then Burn so far has hardly done a foot in an England shirt. The three lions still have to give a goal with burning on the field, although his three caps have come against the limited opposition of Albania and Andorra (twice).
The 33-year-old says a business for a World Cup place, and Tuesday’s trip to Belgrade can be an ideal acidity test. Serbia has a physically formidable front line in Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic, who will not be afraid to disturb feathers.
Then Burn is the highest rated defender of England (7.67) during the European qualifications for the World Cup 2026. 🛡️ pic.twitter.com/becrsmnp4i
– Whoscored (@Whoscored) September 9, 2025
In addition to a hostile atmosphere, the Thomas Tuchel could tell a lot about the late thriving defender.
Read – the positions in Tuchel’s English side still for the taking
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