It was a tale of two games for Thomas Tuchel and England as the Three Lions secured a maximum six points from their two World Cup qualifiers this international break in conflicting style.
First, Tuchel’s men trudged to a tepid 2-0 win over minnows Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday, with the German’s team offering a blunt showing in front of goal.
But confidence was restored in Belgrade on Tuesday as the Three Lions ran riot against world No 32-ranked Serbia, with England showcasing the guile and attacking prowess fans have been crying out for.
Tuchel has chopped and changed with his squads since inherting the head coach role from interim boss Lee Carsley, with many questions still unanswered ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Yet there can be no disputing there have been big winners – and losers – from this round of international matches. JACK GAUGHAN runs through those who can be happy and displeased with the past fortnight’s events.
Thomas Tuchel will have learnt a lot from England’s latest international round of matches
Manchester City
Manchester United
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WINNERS
Elliot Anderson
Tough to go overboard after the display against Andorra yet Tuesday night should have provided a better indictor of how Anderson can take to international football in the No 6 role. The Nottingham Forest man ran the game.
Most duels won throughout the 5-0 victory, seven in total, and nobody completed more passes than his 14 into the final third. It’s this progressive all-action midfield player which England have missed and the move has also freed up Declan Rice.
‘When I saw him in the Under 21s final, I knew he could be a No 6 for us,’ Thomas Tuchel said. ‘Now it’s on him to keep it going, to keep the freedom with him that he needs for his game.’
Elliot Anderson stamped himself as a leading contender to occupy the No 6 position in the US
Anthony Barry
Tuchel has discussed the idea that set pieces, and even long throws, will become significant components of next summer’s World Cup and it was striking that of England’s four non-penalty goals in Serbia, three emanated from dead balls.
Harry Kane’s header came from a Rice corner, with Marc Guehi blocking off a marker. Ezri Konsa’s opportunistic effort at the back post was a second phase free kick, with Guehi later heading in a Rice set piece. Morgan Rogers pushed a defender back to give Guehi room without running offside.
Assistant manager Anthony Barry is the man devising these routines and so it will be a feather in his cap that England were so ruthless from those situations out in Belgrade.
Tuchel has identified set pieces as a key weapon and Anthony Barry has delivered
Noni Madueke
A first England goal to go with a collection of assists across his nine caps is not bad work from a winger who has been encouraged through the age groups and really kicked on with the Under 21s under Lee Carsley.
The deft finish, a calm dink after hurtling through on goal, will have pleased Tuchel but Madueke’s attitude proved England’s biggest asset, according to the manager.
‘Noni needs to stay focussed and I’m most happy about his attitude [in Serbia], the reaction after ball losses, the work that he put in to help Reece James,’ Tuchel said.
‘The work-rate is what I like the most in his performance and from there he’s fast, he’s direct, he likes to dribble. That’s what we want from him.’
LOSERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold
James is ahead of everybody else in the pecking order at right back and, if he manages to remain injury free, will nail down that spot next summer.
The omitted Kyle Walker has not been mentioned around the England camp over the past fortnight, with Tino Livramento preferred as the understudy and somebody who can operate at left back – as he did in Serbia.
Alexander-Arnold was personally told by Tuchel that he hadn’t made the squad and found the news tough to hear. Tuchel seemed to suggest he wants him to settle at Real Madrid before coming back into the fold but there is also the possibility of Ben White’s recall too. Alexander-Arnold will have watched the two games, and the James assist for Rice’s header against Andorra, and know there is work to do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was not named in Tuchel’s squad, while Reece James performed well
Eberechi Eze
Eze’s had a busy few weeks, with his move to Arsenal sealed towards the end of the transfer window, but had only played 20 minutes of football since August 17 ahead of the Andorra victory.
The attacking midfielder flitted in and out of that win and should have scored at least once at Villa Park, with Tuchel revealing disappointment at the 27-year-old’s performance on Saturday.
Eze’s decision-making was criticised and Tuchel wanted him to play quicker inside the final third – although England hope he returns to his best with a few games at Arsenal under his belt.
It was a tale of contrasting fortunes for Arsenal wingers Noni Madueke (left) and Eberechi Eze
Marcus Rashford
A really tough area of the pitch to cement a place in the squad. Anthony Gordon was superb out on the left wing in Serbia after Rashford only showed moments of promise at the weekend.
Tuchel has said Rashford is definitely a winger, and not a striker, which leaves him competing with Gordon, Eze, Rogers. There is a clamour for Jack Grealish’s reintroduction. Phil Foden can play out there. And there are more.
So Rashford’s tepid display against the minnows will not have helped his cause, even if he did come off the bench to score a penalty in Serbia. The Barcelona loan needs to work and he has to quickly fight a way into Hansi Flick’s preferred starting XI.
Marcus Rashford is competing in an area where Tuchel has strong depth, and failed to truly hammer home his case for a place in next summer’s squad
