England captain Harry Kane believes the team’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Serbia should serve as a benchmark for their approach to the 2026 World Cup, following scrutiny of their early performances under head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Despite winning all four of their opening Group K qualifiers, England had faced criticism for underwhelming displays against Andorra, Albania and Latvia. Questions were raised over Tuchel’s tactical choices and team selections, with pundits highlighting a lack of fluidity and attacking sharpness.
Tuesday’s performance in Belgrade, however, marked a significant improvement. Goals from Kane, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marcus Rashford and Marc Guehi reflected a more dynamic and aggressive style of play, both with and without the ball.
Addressing ITV after the match, Kane acknowledged the external criticism but stressed that the squad remained confident in their development.
“There’s been a lot of noise on the outside, but we’ve been happy with the progress. It’s not always simple against teams that sit deep with 11 behind the ball. Tonight was different — a real test against quality opposition — and we showed what we can do, especially in terms of pressing high and making it difficult for them,” he said.
England now sit on the verge of securing qualification for next year’s finals in North America. For Kane, the win represented more than just three points — it was a statement of intent.
“This is the stage where competition sharpens and our identity takes shape. The system and style are close to being set in stone. Of course, adjustments will be needed depending on the opposition, but our goal is to play on the front foot, press aggressively, and recover the ball quickly. Tonight was the perfect template,” Kane added.
While acknowledging tougher challenges ahead, Kane urged consistency in maintaining those standards.
“We’ll face difficult matches between now and the World Cup, but this performance sets the bar. The expectation is now to build on it.”
England will next test themselves in a friendly against Wales on October 9 before resuming qualifying action against Latvia five days later.
