England prepare for Serbia test at Wembley
England have already booked their place at the 2026 World Cup, but the penultimate Wembley qualifier against Serbia carries its own energy. It is a meeting shaped by form, expectations and a sense of audition, with players seeking to convince Thomas Tuchel that they belong in his final squad.
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Six wins from six, 18 goals scored and none conceded, England qualified with quiet authority. The recent 5-0 away win in Latvia has created a team that understands its identity, even if Tuchel admitted dissatisfaction with the atmosphere in the previous 3-0 friendly against Wales. The fans who arrived in Riga responded by chanting at the head coach, and he took this moment with good humor.
A new edge and performance that reflects the growing depth of this team is expected at Wembley. With one more camp remaining after this international window before Tuchel names his squad for the World Cup trip, every performance counts.
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Photo: IMAGO
Serbia were initially expected to be England's strongest opponents in Group K, although September's meeting in Belgrade told a different story. This defeat, followed by another defeat to Albania, left Serbia struggling to qualify for the knockout stages. Their arrival in London comes amid turmoil and intrigue following the appointment of Veljko Paunovic, who once led Serbia to triumph at the 2015 Under-20 World Cup.
Key details of the match England – Serbia
Date and time: Thursday 13 November 2025, starting at 19:45 GMT.
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Venue: Wembley Stadium
How to watch:
ITV1 will broadcast the match live from 7pm, with free streaming available via ITVX.
Lineup Updates and Selection Notes
England are without Marc Guey after the Crystal Palace captain suffered a leg injury. Trevo Chalobah stepped in, while Newcastle pair Nick Pope and Anthony Gordon also withdrew with concussion and hip problems. James Trafford will replace Pope.
Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Adam Wharton and Nico O'Reilly return to the squad, while Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott gets his first senior call-up. Miles Lewis-Skelly, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are sidelined, while Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Danny Welbeck have yet to be recalled. Cole Palmer remains unavailable.
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Forecast and expected flow
England's consistency in qualifying makes this a cool match and they are expected to get through this match. They have scored 13 goals in their last three matches and have avoided any defensive calls. Serbia, still adjusting to Paunovic's ideas, are hoping for improved results but lack rhythm.
England will win 3-0.
