The most fanatical of the supporters who follow Partizan Belgrade, Red Star’s great city rivals, call themselves the Grobari, the gravediggers.
Some made their way over to the enemy territory of the Rajko Mitic Stadium to roar on Serbia on Tuesday night and they brought with them attire adorned with their emblems, a shovel and a pick axe.
Others had certainly expected a burial in Belgrade. A groundswell of discontent has been building around the management of Thomas Tuchel since he took over as England coach last October and defeat to the Serbs would have elevated it to uncomfortable levels.
England’s performances have often been dull and uninspired during this World Cup qualifying campaign and many had worried that Tuchel’s new England, shorn of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka would be exposed here.
Instead, Tuchel, who had come into the job with a gleaming reputation for tactical mastery, rose again. England responded to the doubts that have grown around them and the new regime with a brilliant 5-0 win in a hostile environment.
England played so well they quietened the crowd almost from the beginning. Near the end of the game, the travelling fans were emboldened enough to taunt the home supporters with chants of ‘is this a library?’
England played so well in Belgrade that they quietened the crowd – and burnished their World Cup credentials
Discontent has been brewing over the Thomas Tuchel era but Tuesday’s win saw the Three Lions respond to the doubters in style
Noni Madueke was one of a number of trusted young players who validated their start
The young players that Tuchel has trusted stood particularly tall. Noni Madueke scored a peach of a first international goal, Morgan Rogers was excellent in the number 10 role and Elliot Anderson, once again, anchored midfield with aplomb.
Harry Kane had opened the scoring Ezri Konsa had scored his first England goal and Reece James had impressed at right back. Mark Guehi was impeccable at the back and scored England’s fourth 15 minutes from time.
Marcus Rashford was brought on in the second half and quickly impressed with a classy cameo. After Ollie Watkins had been brought down in the area in the last minute, Rashford dispatched the penalty for England’s fifth.
Oh, and Jordan Pickford claimed his seventh clean sheet in a row, equalling his own and Gordon Banks’ record for clean sheets in consecutive appearances for England. There was only good news for Tuchel on a night when he most needed it.
The Serbs were reduced to 10 men 18 minutes from time when Nottingham Forest defender and Serbia captain Nikola Milenkovic was sent off for a scything foul on Kane but the game was over by then anyway. Serbia had been humbled in front of their own fans.
The style of the victory will have pleased Tuchel most. England were fluent and fluid and adventurous and confident. They played with confidence and penetration in a victory that puts them seven points clear at the top of Group K.
That means that they have one foot in the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer. This was their most difficult game and they aced it. The rest of the campaign need hold no fears for them. Tuchel can use the rest of the qualifying tournament to fine-tune his selections as the tournament approaches.
This was also a priceless learning experience for England’s players. If the atmosphere was not quite as hostile and inflammatory as it can be for a Red Star game, it was still the most daunting experience many of them will have had in football.
The Three Lions are well on their way to featuring in next year’s World Cup in North America
The daunting atmosphere of the Rajko Mitic Stadium proved no obstacle for the visitors
Harry Kane opened the scoring and his team-mates duly followed in the impressive victory
All of them stood up. All of them deserve immense credit. It was a masterful display and if many had started to grow increasingly pessimistic about England’s chances at the World Cup, this was the kind of performance that brings fresh hope.
The febrile atmosphere that England had been warned to expect did not quite materialise. The walk to the pitch through the famous tunnel under the North Stand may have been unnerving and the God Save the King was booed lustily by the home fans but the hostility soon faded.
Perhaps that was partly because Serbia did little to cheer their fans in the opening exchanges. England settled well. With Elliot Anderson again selected at the base of midfield alongside Declan Rice, they dominated possession and forced the Serbs into several last-ditch clearances.
Rice berated himself when some neat interplay gave him space on the edge of the area but he could only drill his shot straight at Djordje Petrovic. Reece James, Tuchel’s favoured right back, threatened several times down the flanks.
When Serbia did break forward, Marc Guehi drew reluctant gasps of admiration from the home supporters with a sharp turn away from trouble. At the other end, Anthony Gordon tricked his marker with a beautiful turn that left Strahinja Erakovic grappling with thin air.
Gordon was growing more and more into the game as England strengthened their grip on the game. He slalomed between two defenders and let fly with a rasping, rising shot that Petrovic palmed away.
England came desperately close to scoring just before the half-hour when clever play by Morgan Rogers put Madueke in on goal. Madueke’s shot was half-blocked but it ran on to Kane and just when it seemed he would tap it into an empty net, Petrovic’s dive pushed the ball wide.
It was only a brief reprieve for Serbia. Twelve minutes before half time, Rice swung over a corner from the right, Kane’s clever movement found him space in the box and he steered his stooping header past Petrovic and in off the post from near the penalty spot.
After a slew of open-play goals a foul on Ollie Watkins handed England a final penalty to cap their fine performance
Marcus Rashford’s name on the scoresheet was testament to his vigour as a late substitute
England deserved their lead. In fact, they deserved more. Two minutes later, they got more. Anderson played a ball into Rogers and Rogers’ delicate flick freed Madueke 40 yards out. Madueke sprinted for goal, cut in front of his trailing marker and lifted a beautiful finish over Petrovic. It was a fine way for Madueke to score his first England goal.
England put the match out of reach seven minutes after the interval. Gordon fired in a difficult low cross-shot that Petrovic could only parry. It bounced off Guehi, eluded Kane and fell to Konsa, who lashed it delightedly into the net.
Serbia fans started fighting amongst themselves. The stadium announcer asked that someone stop shining a laser pen at England players. A Serbia fan was tackled to the ground as he made a futile attempt to launch himself into the England section. It was a desultory night for the home crowd.
England’s fourth came when Guehi’s hunger and persistence and strength ensured he got to Rice’s free kick before his marker and forced his shot over the line from close range. Rashford deserved to get on the teamsheet for the vigour of his cameo.
The gravediggers? They went home disappointed.
