England provide tantalizing glimpse of versatile attack without Kane

Tuchel, who has largely adhered to a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout his tenure, maintained the structural integrity of his system even as he initiated a quadruple substitution. With England holding a precarious 1-0 lead, courtesy of Bukayo Saka’s volley in the 34th minute, the tactical adjustments shifted the attacking emphasis dramatically. Harry Kane, England’s record goalscorer and undisputed talisman, was withdrawn, along with Morgan Rogers, who had started in the No. 10 role. In their stead, Phil Foden was deployed as a false nine, with Jude Bellingham operating just behind him, occupying the No. 10 position. Further changes saw Eberechi Eze replace Marcus Rashford on the left flank, while veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson came on for Declan Rice, allowing Elliot Anderson to push further forward and contribute more effectively in the final third.

The immediate consequence of these personnel and positional shifts was a discernible uplift in England’s attacking fluency and creativity. The team produced their most incisive football of the night, demonstrating a newfound dynamism and unpredictability. With three minutes remaining in regulation time, the burgeoning understanding between the new attacking trio almost bore fruit. Bellingham, driving purposefully through midfield, linked with Foden, whose exquisite flick found Eze in space. The Arsenal winger’s subsequent effort, however, cannoned off the crossbar, denying England a second goal at that moment. Yet, the combination play offered a clear signal of intent.

Just three minutes later, the same trio would not be denied. Bellingham again initiated the move, surging forward with characteristic power and precision. He found Foden, who, demonstrating exceptional vision and technique, delivered a perfectly weighted pass directly into Eze’s path. This time, Eze’s first-time shot curled unerringly into the top corner, a sublime finish that sealed England’s 2-0 victory. While Serbia were undoubtedly tiring and pushing forward in desperation to salvage their qualification hopes, the seamless interplay between Bellingham, Foden, and Eze offered an exciting and highly encouraging glimpse of a distinct attacking identity. It underscored a potential strategic alternative that could be pivotal in future high-stakes encounters.

In his post-match comments, Tuchel addressed the notion of Foden as a "Plan B" to Kane, acknowledging the Manchester City star’s versatility. "It is absolutely an opportunity if Phil stays in this shape and in this form, I have no problem," Tuchel stated, before hinting at other options. "I have some other options in mind that I don’t want to discuss in public. Don’t forget we have [Aston Villa’s] Ollie Watkins, we have Welbeck, maybe more No. 9s. Also very different from Harry." The mention of Danny Welbeck, 34, last capped for England in September 2018, served to highlight the depth of consideration Tuchel is giving to his attacking arsenal, emphasizing a desire for diverse profiles beyond the established starter. Welbeck, currently at Brighton & Hove Albion, brings experience and a different physical presence, contrasting with the more fluid, technical attributes of Foden.

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Tuchel’s pre-match assertion that Foden should not be confined to a traditional winger role—a tactical decision that drew criticism when his predecessor, Gareth Southgate, deployed him predominantly wide at Euro 2024—had already intensified scrutiny on England’s attacking setup. Foden himself had admitted in January that "the position I was put in on the left was very difficult to influence the game" during that tournament. His deployment as a false nine for England represents a potentially innovative tactical development, one that Southgate never extensively pursued. However, at club level, Foden has experience in this role under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, both before and, on occasion, after the arrival of conventional striker Erling Haaland. This prior experience provides a strong foundation for Tuchel’s experimentation.

Tuchel, who managed Chelsea for 18 months between 2021 and 2022, vividly recalled Foden’s effectiveness in this hybrid attacking role from his Premier League days. "I had the idea several months ago because I played against Phil in these kind of positions," Tuchel explained. "I had the feeling in the Premier League some years ago, it was really, really tough with his little movements, counter-movements, little runs. City were so dominant. He had the positions in the pockets, the half-turns. He was shooting, he played a one-two then he did a little run off the ball and assisted. You couldn’t catch him." This detailed recollection underscores Tuchel’s long-standing appreciation for Foden’s unique qualities as a central attacker, particularly his ability to operate in congested areas and disrupt defensive lines with intelligent movement.

When assembling his initial long list of 50 to 60 players, Foden’s "outstanding quality" was evident to Tuchel. "I was hoping to nominate him for the first camp and he had a difficult spell at City. Then he came back," Tuchel noted, indicating Foden’s resurgence in form. "I wanted to see him close to the opponent’s box, in the middle of the traffic surrounded by a lot of players. I think he did excellent. In matches where we need to unlock a deep opponent, he can always be a choice." This strategic vision positions Foden as a crucial asset for breaking down resilient, compact defenses, offering a different solution compared to Kane’s more traditional centre-forward play.

Despite these emerging tactical options, Harry Kane’s status within the England squad remains unsurpassed. As the country’s all-time leading goal scorer, currently in scintillating form for Bayern Munich, and a principal driver of professional standards off the field, there is little doubt he will lead the line at next summer’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, barring injury. The role of Kane’s understudy has historically been a challenging one to secure long-term, given his consistent quality and remarkable durability. Players like Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins have been utilized in that capacity, but opportunities have been inherently limited due to Kane’s near-permanent presence.

However, if England are to genuinely contend for major honours in the demanding environments of the upcoming World Cup, a deep and adaptable squad will be paramount. With players like Morgan Rogers and Kane currently considered first-choice in certain attacking roles, and the dynamic pairing of Bellingham and Foden now showcasing their potential to supplement them, England possesses an intriguing array of options. This is before considering the potential return of other talents such as Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who has also demonstrated significant creative prowess.

On the flanks, the Serbia match provided further insights. Marcus Rashford, while showing flashes of threat, ultimately faltered in the final third, struggling to deliver a decisive impact. Eberechi Eze, by contrast, proved to be a more potent and direct threat, culminating in his well-taken goal. On the opposite wing, Bukayo Saka produced the game’s outstanding moment of individual quality prior to England’s late surge. The collective attacking effort against Serbia was statistically significant, with 12 different England players creating a chance—the highest number recorded in a single match since data collection began in 2013. This statistic points to a widespread distribution of creative responsibility and a less predictable attacking output. England now travel to Albania for their next qualifier, maintaining a perfect record of seven wins, 20 goals scored, and none conceded in their qualifying campaign.

Tuchel’s management of this squad continues to be characterized by a commitment to meritocracy over established reputation. The conventional choice might have been to immediately restore Jude Bellingham to the starting lineup, especially after the public discourse surrounding his omission from the previous squad. However, Morgan Rogers, having excelled in the qualification campaign to date, retained his starting berth. "Morgan deserved to stay on the pitch because he had three fantastic performances with him, and second of all, we didn’t know what was coming if our plan was right with the high press," Tuchel explained.

Tuchel further elaborated on his decision-making process: "It would be unfair for Jude to try figure everything out because we changed our way of pressing in the last two camps. Declan [Rice], Morgan [Rogers] and Harry [Kane] did it already in three, four matches together. I figured they could adapt a bit quicker. Once we see the formation, we can give clear instructions to Phil and Jude and bring them from the bench." This detailed tactical rationale underscores Tuchel’s methodical approach, prioritizing established tactical understanding and form when selecting his starting XI. While Bellingham and Foden’s talent is undeniable, their introduction from the bench allowed them to enter a more settled game state and execute specific instructions, which ultimately paid dividends.

Time will ultimately be the judge, but the tactical versatility and depth showcased against Serbia suggest a promising future for England. This adaptability, particularly in the attacking third, could prove to be an invaluable asset as the team progresses through qualification and prepares for major international tournaments.