Bukayo Saka says he’s “unsure” whether or not his volley in opposition to Serbia was his finest England purpose – and the Arsenal ahead has dismissed a suggestion he was injured throughout the sport.
Saka, who missed six membership and worldwide matches earlier this season due to a hamstring harm, appeared to ask to come back off after placing England forward within the twenty eighth minute of the 2-0 house win in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
“I simply wished to vary my boots – that was it,” Saka instructed ITV Soccer. “It’s a efficiency we will be pleased with. It was a clear strike. I used to be completely satisfied it went in.”
Bukayo SAKA! 🏴⚽️
It is a BRILLIANT end from the Arsenal man 💥#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | @England pic.twitter.com/T7glMUkNsH
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) November 13, 2025
England vs Serbia: Eze praises ‘expertise’
Considered one of Saka’s Premier League teammates, Eberechi Eze, curled within the second purpose within the ninetieth minute as England stayed good forward of their closing qualifier in Albania on Sunday.
“You already know a lot of these gamers who’re at all times going to place the ball in the fitting place for you,” Eze mentioned of Phil Foden’s help for him.
“I simply noticed the chance and it went in. There are a whole lot of gifted [forwards] who’re [in the squad] and aren’t right here.
“It’s the kind of competitors that you just need to be round and it’s going to assist the workforce, for positive.”
The Three Lions had already certified for the finals within the US, Canada and Mexico and have gained all seven matches within the marketing campaign with out conceding.
Eberechi Eze scores once more for England! ⚽️⚽️🏴
What a strike. Job carried out for the Three Lions 🦁#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/hhtES5vCho
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) November 13, 2025
England beginning lineup vs Serbia
Manchester Metropolis’s Nico O’Reilly made his first England begin, with Jude Bellingham on the bench and Morgan Rogers beginning in midfield.
England had been with out goalkeeper Nick Pope, winger Anthony Gordon and centre-back Marc Guehi by way of harm, though the Crystal Palace captain remained with the squad.
Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper James Trafford and Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah obtained late call-ups.
England beginning XI: Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly, Bukayo Saka, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
England substitutes: James Trafford, Trevoh Chalobah, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Dan Burn, Dean Henderson, Djed Spence, Adam Wharton, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Jarell Quansah
Serbia beginning lineup vs England
Serbia had been with out Al-Rayyan striker Aleksandar Mitrovic – the nation’s report scorer – by way of harm, with Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic main the road.
Serbia beginning XI: Predrag Rajkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Aleksa Terzic, Ognjen Mimovic, Ivan Ilic, Nemanja Gudelj, Sasa Lukic, Filip Kostic, Andrija Zivkovic, Dusan Vlahovic
Serbia substitutes: Djordje Petrovic, Marko Grujic, Nemanja Radonjic, Luka Jovic, Aleksandar Katai, Veljko Ilic, Milos Veljkovic, Veljko Milosavljevic, Strahinja Erakovic, Luka Ilic, Aleksandar Stankovic, Lazar Samardzic
England squad vs Serbia and Albania
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester Metropolis)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O’Reilly (Man Metropolis), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Man Metropolis)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Actual Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Villa), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man Metropolis), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, mortgage from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
England soccer workforce World Cup qualifying fixtures
Friday, March 21: England 2-0 Albania
Monday, March 24: England 3-0 Latvia
Saturday, June 7: Andorra 0-1 England
Saturday, September 6: England 2-0 Andorra
Tuesday, September 9: Serbia 0-5 England
Tuesday, October 14: Latvia 0-5 England
Thursday, November 13: England 2-0 Serbia
Sunday, November 16: Albania vs England (17:00)
England: World Cup 2026 qualifying path
The highest workforce from every of the 12 European Qualifier teams proceeds mechanically to the finals, which shall be expanded to 48 groups.
The 12 runners-up in every group will be a part of 4 Nations League groups within the play-offs, which shall be drawn from pots primarily based on groups’ information throughout the marketing campaign. The video games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals.
The draw for the World Cup finals will happen in December 2025. The match runs from June 11 till July 19 2026.
