England delivered a statement performance on Tuesday night, thrashing Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade to strengthen their World Cup qualifying campaign. On the same night, Erling Haaland stole headlines in Norway’s record-breaking 11-1 win over Moldova, scoring five goals to maintain his nation’s perfect run. Across Europe, Portugal and France also battled back from behind to secure vital victories.
How Did England Dominate Against Serbia?
Thomas Tuchel’s side faced criticism after a lackluster 2-0 win over Andorra, but they silenced doubters with a ruthless display in Belgrade. Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, heading in his 74th international goal from a Declan Rice corner. Just two minutes later, Noni Madueke doubled the lead after a smart flick-on from Morgan Rogers.
The second half was all England. Ezri Konsa pounced on a loose ball to score his first international goal, Marc Guehi converted from another Rice set-piece, and Marcus Rashford capped the night with a late penalty. Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic was sent off for a foul on Kane, which only added to their misery. England can now seal qualification for an eighth consecutive World Cup in their next Group K clash against Latvia.
What Made Haaland the Star of the Night?
Norway’s 11-1 demolition of Moldova saw Haaland in unstoppable form. The Manchester City striker netted a first-half hat-trick, added a fourth just after halftime, and later grabbed his fifth as Moldova crumbled. Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard came off the bench to score a hat-trick of his own, while Martin Odegaard contributed with a goal and two assists. Norway, who already stunned Italy earlier in qualifying, are pushing to reach their first World Cup since 1998.
How Did Portugal and France Keep Momentum?
Cristiano Ronaldo once again made the difference for Portugal in a 3-2 win over Hungary. After Bernardo Silva equalised, Ronaldo scored his 141st international goal from the spot before Joao Cancelo struck late to seal victory. In Paris, France survived a scare against Iceland, coming from behind through a Kylian Mbappe penalty and a Bradley Barcola tap-in assisted by Mbappe. Despite Aurélien Tchouameni’s red card, Les Bleus held on for a 2-1 win to remain top of Group D.
With England firing, Haaland rewriting records, and superstars like Ronaldo and Mbappe continuing to shine, the road to the 2026 World Cup is already packed with drama and standout performances.
By Yockshard Enyendi
