Serbia Vs England preview: team news, prediction, line-ups
England will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start in World Cup qualifiers this evening but will face a tough test from Serbia.
The Three Lions currently sit top of Group K while Serbia are five points behind in second place with a game in hand.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Match Preview.
Thomas Tuchel took charge of the England national team at the start of the year and has overseen five matches so far. During that time, England have suffered just one defeat — a 3-1 loss to Senegal in a friendly back in June.
The remaining four matches have all ended in unconvincing wins. While England currently sit top of their World Cup qualifying group, some fans are already questioning whether Tuchel is the right man to lead the nation into next year's tournament.
In their most recent outing, England beat Andorra 2-0 at Villa Park — a ground the men's national team hadn't played at since February 2005.
The opener came in the 25th minute when Noni Madueke's cross was turned into his own net by Christian García González. Declan Rice added a second midway through the second half with a well-placed header past goalkeeper Iker Álvarez, sealing a routine three points.
Up next for Tuchel's side is a crucial test against Serbia, who are also unbeaten in World Cup qualifying. The Orlovi have taken seven points from their first three games — a 0-0 draw with Albania, followed by a 3-0 win over Andorra and a 1-0 victory against Latvia.
Serbia are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Their last defeat came in October 2024, when they were comfortably beaten by European champions Spain.
The last meeting between England and Serbia came in last summer's European Championship, where a Jude Bellingham header secured a narrow 1-0 win for the Three Lions.
A Serbian victory this time around would close the gap at the top of the qualifying group to just two points, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Team news.
Serbia have no reported injury concerns following their win over Latvia, but some changes are expected to the starting lineup for Tuesday's clash.
Aleksandar Mitrović is in contention to return to the front line, with the all-time leading scorer (62 goals) likely to replace Luka Jović. Dušan Vlahović is also expected to retain his place in the attack.
In midfield, Nemanja Gudelj and Nemanja Maksimović are both in line for recalls, while vice-captain Nikola Milenković is expected to return to the heart of the defence.
England, meanwhile, emerged from their victory over Andorra without any injury issues, and major changes to the starting XI are not anticipated.
However, Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze struggled to make an impact in that match, which could open the door for Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers to feature in the attacking positions.
Ezri Konsa may also be brought in to replace Dan Burn in central defence, while Elliot Anderson is expected to keep his place after an impressive showing against Andorra.
Serbia possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Milenkovic, Erakovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Gudelj, Maksimovic, Samardzic, Terzic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; James, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis-Skelly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Rogers, Gordon; Kane
We Say: Serbia 1-1 England
England have yet to find their rhythm under Thomas Tuchel, with performances so far falling short of expectations — particularly against weaker opposition. In contrast, Serbia boast a potent attacking lineup that could pose serious problems for the Three Lions' defence.
This one has all the makings of a tight, cagey contest. England may find themselves under pressure for large spells, and a draw feels like a realistic outcome as both sides look to protect their unbeaten records in qualifying.