England delivered a resounding statement of intent with a 5-0 victory over Serbia in a World Cup qualifier, marking a significant milestone in Thomas Tuchel's tenure as manager. The Three Lions dominated their opponents in Belgrade, showcasing a ruthless attacking display and solidifying their position at the top of Group K.
Harry Kane, the England captain, continued his prolific scoring record, while Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi all celebrated their first international goals. Marcus Rashford completed the rout with a penalty. England's performance was a far cry from their narrow 1-0 victory against Serbia at Euro 2024, demonstrating the team's progress under Tuchel. Kane praised the team's energy and level, stating that they made a good Serbian team "look average". Tuchel himself emphasized that the players had set a new standard for their performances. The win puts England seven points clear at the top of Group K, making their qualification for the 2026 World Cup almost certain.
Meanwhile, France and Portugal faced their own challenges in their respective World Cup qualifying matches. France narrowly escaped an upset against Iceland, securing a 2-1 victory with Kylian Mbappe playing a crucial role. Iceland initially took the lead, but Mbappe converted a penalty and set up Bradley Barcola for the winning goal. France's task was made more difficult when they were reduced to 10 men.
Portugal also had to dig deep to avoid an upset. Details of their match were not available in the search results, but it was indicated that Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in helping Portugal secure a positive result.
In other news, France is facing a political crisis as Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a confidence vote in parliament, leading to his resignation. President Macron is now searching for the seventh prime minister of his presidency. The political instability has raised concerns about France's ability to tackle its mounting debt burden. There are reports of rising pressure on Emanuel Macron, with calls for his resignation.
Portugal is also dealing with travel disruptions due to ongoing strikes at major airports. The industrial action by baggage handlers is expected to cause delays and potential flight cancellations. The strikes are planned to occur in alternating periods, impacting long weekends, bank holidays, and the Christmas and New Year period.
