zimpenfish“[Serbia] (ranked 36th) was never going to be easy for England (ranked 4th)”
(my brackets)
BBC Pundits on top nonsense form again tonight.
Henry Winter 🤖Report from Wembley on the duel for the No 10 crown: Morgan Rogers versus Jude Bellingham, good friends, positional rivals, clock counting down to the World Cup. Bellingham wore the 10 but Rogers had the start and has been preferred by Thomas Tuchel.
Rogers had a decent but not eye-catching hour. He delivered three fine passes to Marcus Rashford and did more out of possession, closing down Serbs, which Tuchel always likes. Bellingham brought more urgency when he replaced Rogers. He tried to follow Tuchel’s instructions, crashing the box but was not helped by the absence of a centre-forward to work off. Harry Kane, a real 9, had been subbed off for a false 9 in Phil Foden. Yet such is the talent and vision of Bellingham and Foden that the pair combined brilliantly to set up Eberechi Eze's goal.
Bellingham shaded the duel but Rogers’ supporters will point to Serbia tiring. The real positives for Tuchel were the goals from Bukayo Saka and Eze, another clean sheet, Jordan Pickford now moving to 900 minutes without conceding, another fine display from Elliot Anderson and a remarkably mature debut from 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly, who has definitely put himself amongst the left-back contenders for the World Cup.
But, like the news bulletins, many eyes were on No 10. Rogers’ audition was first. He played between the lines, at times closer to Saka on the right than Kane in the centre. There were signs of good understanding growing between Rogers and Saka. This wasn’t Rogers’ best hour’s work under Tuchel – that was in Belgrade or the Wales friendly at Wembley – but he definitely worried Serbia. Kostic kept looking over his shoulder to check on Rogers’ movement.
Serbia were caught out briefly by one Rogers’ run in behind in pursuit of a Reece James ball. His best touches were a cross-field pass to Rashford, a long delivery down the right for Rashford to chase, a flicked header wide from a James cross and a pass round the corner to Rashford.
Tuchel admires Rogers’ work out of possession, too. He was quick to press, racing to close down Pavlovic. The pair became well-acquainted. Rogers was back at corners, wrestling with Pavlovic.
Bellingham is England’s Player of the Year, a star at Real Madrid, but he has still to convince Tuchel. In replacing Rogers after 63 minutes, Bellingham arrived to a huge “Juuuude” cry of delight from many of the fans. He was immediately involved, demanding the ball, bringing more urgency and ambition. He charged in, beating his man, finding James, and taking the return before Serbia recovered. Bellingham could have done with a few minutes seeing if he could build a partnership with Kane but he’d departed. There was still that understanding with Foden.
But it was noticeable that when Bellingham lost the ball after 82 minutes, trying to beat a Serb on the halfway line, Tuchel stared at the ground, then looked at his assistant Anthony Barry. When Bellingham then overhit a pass to Saka on the quick, damp surface, Tuchel slapped his hands in frustration. But Bellingham finished strongly, overpowering Milenkovic – illegally Serbia claimed - to launch the move that was taken on skilfully by Foden and led to Eze’s goal.
The conclusion has to be that Bellingham is the more heavyweight talent, a stronger option than Rogers, and surely has to start at the World Cup. But Tuchel loves this competition for the No 10 shirt. The duels are not over. #ENG #ENGSRB
SimonAnother international, another impressive performance so far from Elliot Anderson. Only his fifth England appearance, already looks so at home, surely Tuchel's starting No 6 at the World Cup. Good in possession. Taking ball from Pickford, calmly passing through the Serbian press. A threat on the ball, fouled by Pavlovic and Lukic. Threaded lovely ball through to Saka. One overhit switch to O’Reilly too high. Good out of possession, keeping the shape, covering, winning the ball in deep midfield, won it twice in the air. #ENG #ENGSRB #NFFC
Rain still coming down at Wembley. Now joined by a few paper planes. #ENGSRB
Thomas Tuchel true to his word about “competition” amongst players. Morgan Rogers starting ahead of his friend Jude Bellingham. Rogers been excellent for Tuchel but hard to believe that a match-winning talent as major as England’s Player of the Year won’t start at the World Cup. Rogers’ hamstring must be OK.
Good balance to the team, as usual under Tuchel. Strong spine, pace wide, and always good to see that Anderson-Rice axis allowed to develop further. Great chance for Nico O’Reilly to show his attacking qualities from left-back, and provide competition for Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, Myles Lewis-Skelly, potentially Lewis Hall. Harry Kane’s 111th cap, moves within 3 of Steven Gerrard and 4 of David Beckham, 3rd in all-time appearance list (and Wayne Rooney 120, Peter Shilton 125). #ENG #ENGSRB
