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England BATTER Serbia in Belgrade - 5 Things We Learned from Serbia 0-5 England.
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England crushed Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade — but was it Tuchel’s tactics or Serbia’s failings?
On The DailyNewcastle Podcast, Michael Grahamslaw breaks down England’s best performance in years, the standout Newcastle players, and five key lessons from the match. From Declan Rice’s midfield dominance to Noni Madueke’s breakout, we ask: has Tuchel finally found the winning formula?
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle podcast. Proud to be part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Challenges and Triumphs of Tommy Tuchel
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name is Michael Grameslow and today we are going to be going through what has been a turbulent 48 hours for one Tommy Tuchel.
Analysis of England vs Serbia Match
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
As England have come off a poor performance against Andorra and put in arguably one of their best in a long time to beat Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade. Now, little bit of context.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Serbia were unbeaten in seven matches going into the game. A run that included draws against Denmark and Spain, alongside comfortable wins against Switzerland and Austria.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So while the Serbs aren't exactly a big name in international football, it was definitely a banana skin for England, or at least a potential banana skin. ah But they knocked it out the park, and credit has to go to Thomas Tuchel, who, I'll be honest, if anyone listened to the preview pod Ian and I did,
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
you'll know we were very concerned about them before yesterday just because the performances against really poor teams were, well, really poor. um But if we're going to up a game, the better opposition we face, then I'm completely happy with that.
Impact of Key Players' Absence
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Going into the game, we knew that the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, John Stones, Cole Palmer and many other players were ah weren't fit or simply weren't selected.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah yeah Thomas Tuchel has used, I think it's 32 players now in his five games. So you're sitting there and thinking, right, he's clearly testing the waters to see what works for him. And um'm I'm more than happy with that, ah particularly in these sort of games.
Serbia's Defensive Strategy and England's Response
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But England were kind of ripe for the picking because we didn't know what to expect. um And we were all expecting nothing great, let's be honest. um But certainly didn't start like that. I mean, Serbia, rigid defense, as you probably expect.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Classic five at the back. Serbia tried to hit us on the counter attack, but never really caused England any problems during the game. um For England, it was a set-piece that opened the scoring. Harry Kane peeling off his defender.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's an excellent header. It's what you expect from Harry Kane, realistically. You look him up in the dictionary and that sort of peeling off the defender, header into the far corner.
00:02:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is bread and butter, really. um and From that moment, the the floodgates kind of opened. it was It probably has to be questioned on whether England were that good.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
or whether Serbia were just that poor. But I am going to say it was more the former than the latter.
Tuchel's Coaching Influence on England's Performance
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the reason for that is the distance covered by the two teams.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
England covered around 105 kilometres during the game, which and in an end-to-end game where both teams are counter-attacking each other, ah it's pretty normal.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
In a game where it's basically attack versus defence, the attack tri that while The defense tries to get out a counterattack once every 10 minutes. um it's It's actually quite impressive. ah yeah England had control for over two-thirds of the game, dominated, looked impressive.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you think, yeah, didn't really have to work that hard. um But in the end, they ended up running eight kilometers more than Serbia during the game, which when you're the defending team, usually you move around more than
Player Selection and Club Performance
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
the attacking team. But it just shows...
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thomas Tuchel's work ethic, or his mentality, should I say, of work harder than the opposition. He's had it through his career. Didn't really work out too well at PSG.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Worked out excellently to begin with at Chelsea. And there's a few other teams as well along the way. Dortmund, for example, where it's worked well to begin with, but maybe hasn't translated towards the end.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um where maybe he's lost the players, something like that. I don't think that happens at an international level, thankfully. um But it looks like that work ethic and that mentality will be able to translate to international football.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does mean, though, if you're not playing for your club, if you're someone, let's say, like Jack Grealish was last year, where you're not really getting game time, you're probably not going to be picked for England because you can't. You're not going to be able to match that work ethic.
Newcastle Players' Contribution to England
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then as for the Geordies to Newcastle pod, we might as well talk about the Geordies. um Dan Byrne didn't get a play against Serbia, but started the game against Andorra. Incredibly solid.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon that started alongside former player Elliot Anderson, who had a really good game. Tino was solid, reliable, overall very good, but maybe not as influential as he is for Newcastle United, usually on that left-hand side.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
England focused their attacks down the right, which meant Livermanto and Gordon had less of the action than they knew they normally would for Newcastle. Normally for Newcastle, the centrepiece had to play a bit more of ah a side role um rather than the star-in role. But I think they were happy to do and they both were good when getting the ball to their feet um and off the ball as well.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gordon cutting a number of times, got some semi-decent shots away. Livermanto didn't put a foot wrong. And the overlapping understanding between the two is exactly what Thomas Tuchel would have liked have seen. I do expect to see Byrne, Livermanto, Gordon and Anderson while we're there ah in the next England squad. um Just simply because of performances this time round.
Podcast Segments and Key Takeaways
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a few players that maybe weren't as good who maybe won't call get the call, but it depends on whether he's basing on how how players do for England or how they do England.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
their clubs, because there's a number of players who could still come into the side. I'm going to go into an early advert for the pod, and then I'm going to go into five things we learned from England versus Serbia, so which will probably be a little bit longer um and take up most of the episodes. So we'll have a quick word from Bionique, and then we'll get into the bulk of the pod.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent stuff. So newke ing and i said Newcastle had an excellent win against Serbia. ah That was England, and two Newcastle players starred, one former.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think they'll probably all be included in my five things. I have about seven, so I don't know which two I'm going to leave out. I might even end up including all and just... gone
Declan Rice's Role in England's Midfield
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
completely off the script. But ah five things we learned from England versus Serbia. The first is that Declan Rice will be completely essential to how England play, no matter what role he plays.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So no matter what you think of Declan Rice, I know he's a ah man that splits opinions, particularly on this podcast. um He is the man for England in central midfield. And traditionally, while he plays the role Elliot Anderson has had in the last two games, Rice played a bit more advanced against Serbia and had a huge impact on the game.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
When he's alongside Bellingham, Rice tends to have more of the ball, sits deeper, ends up um having more of an impact on the build-up play for England. While alongside Anderson, Rice has had the free-a-rule, typically ends up with ball the ball in space on the edge of the box.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of the times he was just getting it to feet, taking a touch and having ah a shot, which unfortunately they weren't great against Serbia. Newcastle fans, we know, well, from May, exactly how good Declan Rice can be for ah taking shots outside the box. But against Serbia, it just didn't really work out that well.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But Rice is also on set-piece duty alongside Rhys James. um well when Rhys James is fit I imagine Trent will probably come in at the other right back spot and end up doing exactly the same job Rhys James did um but with Rhys James's better stamina better pace you a bit more physical ah he suits that role a bit better than Trent in my opinion um and it works out very well then for Declan Rice because there's always that overlapping player who can send it out to a bit like
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Sandra Tonali does for Newcastle where he'll pick up that ball, pick up the scraps and it'll immediately go out to an overlapping fullback or a winger. I do think Tonali's a little bit better than Declan Rice, but that's not the question today.
00:09:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yes, ah with Royce being on set-piece duties and that pivotal role in the pivot, ah England yeah he has the ability to basically control a game from either of those positions. And while he wasn't, I would say, at his best against Serbia, he showed that he can do both roles and have an excellent impact on Thomas Tuchel's side. And it could be what England need going into the World Cup.
Maduweke and Gordon: Contrasting Styles and Impact
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then number two, um it's about Ngunny Maduweke, this one. um He is tailor-made for international football, isn't he? I'm not sure what people think about him at club level.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I personally was a little confused when he signed for Arsenal at club level. ah club level sorry Um, but I actually think the signing makes a bit of sense when you consider Bukayo Saka is usually injured for for most of the season.
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, but at a national level, Noni Maduwege looks a great fit. He looks right at home and he's arguably been our best player since Tommy Tuchel took ah charge of the team. He's against Serbia. he He rarely lost the ball, but still contained all that trickery that fans would like to see from the winger.
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, I thought in comparison to Gordon, Gordon was a bit too safe. He passed back quite a lot um to a centre-back who would then try and get it down the right-hand side. Now, I don't know if that's the plan.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know if you If you start your attack on the left-hand side, you play it back to the centre-back. you're kind of hoping that the defense doesn't shift over in time and it gives you your right back and you your right winger a lot more space on the ball to do that thing. That's probably the plan.
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So maybe it's, maybe it is a bit harsh on Gordon to say that, um but we didn't really see that all too much the other way. Um, Madiwege beat his mind more often than not, rarely lost the ball and was always a threat, ah which is fantastic to see, considering I think at club level for Chelsea in particular, he's been poor.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'll be interesting to see how he does for Arsenal. But England look a completely different team when they have two proper wingers out wide.
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Madiweke has unfortunately been the better of the two um in comparison to Anthony Gordon and even Marcus Rashford, really. like um It was an excellent solo goal for England's second and a very strong performance on the right-hand side alongside Rhys James.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Rhys James can stay a fit and Nani Maduike can build that chemistry with them, they would have worked together a fair bit when James was fit at Chelsea. They'll have good understanding.
England's Potential Partnerships and Future Prospects
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot like Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon. We might genuinely see two excellent full-back and winger partnerships on the wings for England, and that could be more than enough to cause some damage at the World Cup.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
which I never thought I'd be saying a week ago. But then number three, um Elliot Anderson. There's no doubt now that Elliot Anderson can fill that midfield gap.
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um If you think back to Euro 2020, I believe it was, when we first saw the pivot of Declan Rice and Calvin Phillips, i think it was Croatia, the opening game, when the team was announced, I think everyone was sitting there and going, that's far too defensive. Calvin Phillips and Declan Rice.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
in centre midfield. What is going on? And it worked a treat. It was absolutely excellent. And I personally didn't see it coming because I didn't think the two would work to work together that well. But after Calvin Phillips moved to Man City, the thing of beauty was kind of starting to decay and we hadn't really found an answer for it.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until Elliot Anderson. ah Two man of the match performances, I believe he's been given. i wouldn't have given the man of the match yesterday against Serbia. thought he had a bit of a cagey start, but was excellent in the end.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But there were players who I thought were excellent for the full 90 minutes. um But Elliot Anderson looks tailor-made to fill that gap made by Calvin Phillips. um I kind of think he sometimes is trying a bit too hard to make things happen, which very admirable quality.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I think in the first 10 minutes, you were looking at Anderson and just going, you just need to slow things down a little bit to start with. Get yourself comfortable and then put in that great performance because...
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was clear you was he was slightly off the boil to begin with. Sometimes from the first second of the game, you can tell he's on form. But just needed a bit so't ah bit of time to get comfortable, which he got after the first 10 minutes or so and ended up putting in an excellent performance.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, Jude Bellingham is likely to take the number 10 at England, which means there is a space next to Declan Rice in that centre midfield. um And we said this months ago on the pod. um It genuinely could be Elliot Anderson lining up along alongside Declan Rice at the World Cup, which makes the decision sell Anderson look worse than what it is.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Hindsight is a beautiful thing. I said that last time we were on the pods talking about Anderson. and it But it is fantastic to see how he's done. If only we'd put a buyback clause in there, um which I feel like should have been foreseen, but you're dealing with Marin Agus.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
so all I'll say there. um Yeah, i hope he I hope he does. I know he isn't a Newcastle player anymore, but I would be chuffed if he made that position his own ah because he is an excellent central midfielder.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
He does a lot of the hard work, so other players don't need to. And I think against teams like Serbia, when you've got two players in there who are decent going forward but can also defend, you know they could be good enough to be defensive purely defensive midfielders, but they can also pass a ball and strike a ball You a team like Serbia can't really handle that.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then number four, I'm going to go with the the jury is still out for Anthony Gordon for England. I think at Newcastle, Anthony Gordon is a very, very good player and he's pivotal to how we play.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Despite the red card against Liverpool, you know, sometimes his attitude can be a little wanting, but he's a great player. For England, I think he's...
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
teetering on reserve to squad player level. I think the reason he's in there is simply because that left wing spot is quite weak for England. ah There hasn't really been a single performance in, I think it's these 13 caps.
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might be 14 now, but ah ah but off the top my head, 13, that have made you sit up and think, this guy has to start for England. And unfortunately, his position is one where you kind of need that because when Jude Bellingham's in the 10, you let's be honest, England have five or six excellent number 10s.
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's going to be looking to see where he can potentially get some of those in because you're going to have your first choice and your second choice. When your third choice in that position is as good as Eberrechie as is or Morgan Rogers,
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
you've got to try and fit them in somewhere, even if it's not as a starter. I mean, I haven't even thought about Phil Foden actually in there as well. Foden's proven he can't do it on the wing for England. So...
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't imagine them getting too much space out there. But you're looking at Eberrechie as in Morgan Rodgers and thinking those are two that you could realistically play on the left and they would still put in great performances because they've done so for their club.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And there's also Marcus Rashford in there who at Man United was an outcast. Got to Barcelona. He's not a guaranteed starter. um I don't think he'll start that many games. But first player to play for England from Barcelona since Gary Lineker.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a good player, and on his day, when his attitude is right, he is a fantastic asset to have. So when you haven't scored in over 200 days like Anthony Gordon, um there is a worry that he could find himself out of the next England squad and actually start playing himself out of the World Cup squad. um But I think the way Thomas Tuchel plays...
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
does suit players like Anthony Gordon and with Newcastle actually having a striker now and Gordon isn't forced to play the striker role, which he never was really any good at.
00:18:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, but credit to him because he's the best we had in that position. Um, I think when he's moved back out the left and you've got Johan Wisser or Nick Vultemard in there, he could get 10 goals and 10 assists again this season.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Maybe a little bit of a stretch because I don't think it'll take a few games to get back up and running. and um But if he can have another one of those seasons for Newcastle, he'll be in the squad guaranteed.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that 200 plus days is going to be on his mind and it's certainly going to be on the mind of Thomas Tuchel.
Harry Kane's Influence on the National Team
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then number five, um I'm going to go for the man that I've slated a lot for England. And I think I'm not, um well, i I don't think, I know I'm not the only one.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And number five is there is still a huge role for Harry Kane with England. His performances over the last three, four years haven't been great. I've said that.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've said that. Everyone has said it. um But his goal record is very, very impressive despite that. But against Serbia, we saw something that England have tried for a long time, but not really gotten right.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Harry Kane drops deep. As always, does it for Bayern Munich, did it for Tottenham. At Tottenham, he had Sung Young-min running beyond. Absolutely excellent. Sung got 20 goals a season because of it. um And then at Bayern, it's now Luis Diaz.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But you had Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, many, many, ah Jamal Musiala, all running in behind when Kane dropped deep.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
At England, wasn't really anyone doing that well. um Against Serbia, Nani Maduweke, Anthony Gordon, and even Marcus Rashford when he came on, actually.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i don't I mean, it wasn't much for Harry Kane with Rashford um because they both... They weren't on the pitch for very long together. But you saw you saw it at times where both would stretch the defence to make space, and then the number 10 would have so much space going forward that out the three, you're often left with three V3, and Harry Kane then has the sort of time and space on the ball to pick out the man in the best position.
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um A lot of the time, that was Nani Maduweke. um and you rarely see it against lesser opposition like Andorra because they don't attempt to get out of their own half.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's If we can keep England at under 3-0, it's a good result. um Serbia tried it. England matched them defensively, and Harry Kane was excellent in the transition ah because you had the two proper wingers running in behind.
Optimism for England's World Cup Prospects
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
When Rashford came on, don't think it involved Kane in this particular one, but... When England won the ball back, Rashford anticipated it before England had even got the ball. And he started making that running behind the Serbian defence. Now, we never saw that for Man United, but it's clear at Barcelona he's got something to prove. At England, he's got something to prove.
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that style of play will suit Kane so well, and it'll get our wingers more goals. It does, however... mean you need pacey and clinical wingers.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clinical is probably one of the last words I would use to describe Anthony Gordon and Nonny Maduweke. So we might see Olly Watkins tested on the left-hand side, and obviously Saka will come in on the right-hand side when he's fit.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But the main thing for me there is Marcus Rashford is going to play on the left. Olly Watkins... could then be tested on the left-hand side as well. Because you might remember Thomas Frank utilised him there at Brentford and to great effect, really, as they got promoted.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um He was playing striker the they got promoted, but they went from being a bottom-half championship side to playoffs um with Ollie Watkins on that left-hand side. And he was excellent after signing from Exeter.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's one of those where England could very well do that with Saka. and either Rashford, Gordon or Watkins on that left-hand side. Again, Gordon is going to have to be a lot more clinical if he wants to fit in there.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But you could really see England causing a lot of damage. And with more clinical wingers, actually England maybe have a chance at this World Cup.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we've kind of been looking at it for the last... Well, since Thomas Tuchel's first game and thinking... Yeah, this isn't going to go well, is it?
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be quite a difficult one for England. We're probably going to go out in the round of 16 or the quarters to not Iceland again, but someone along those lines.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But actually, I'm starting to think maybe with Thomas Tuchel, the higher the quality of opposition, the better we'll see England play because a lot of our players, based on transitions and counterattacks,
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
which you just don't get against the likes of Andorra, Latvia, Albania. So maybe, just maybe, things are starting to look up for
Closing Thoughts on England Under Tuchel
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
England.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But there you have it. Five things we learned after England's 5-0 demolition of Serbia in Belgrade, where we went into the international break thinking... going to be another boring, boring England.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we finished on a five-star display. Who saw that coming? Well, only Tommy Tuchel. Can it continue? Unfortunately, it's going to be another month before we find out.