Their ticket to North America may be stamped but the curtain hasn’t fallen on England’s World Cup qualifying campaign quite yet.

Before attention turns fully to ending those decades of hurt, the Three Lions host Serbia at Wembley in a match that carries vastly different weight for the two nations.

For Thomas Tuchel’s men it’s essentially a victory lap and a final home audition before the 2026 World Cup finals; for Serbia, it’s absolutely a must-not-lose if not a must-win.

England have glided through Group K with an almost serene dominance, winning all six of their games, scoring 18 goals and, most impressively, conceding none.

In stark contrast, Serbia arrive in London amid considerable turmoil. A damaging 1-0 home defeat to Albania last month saw manager Dragan Stojkovic resign, leaving new boss Veljko Paunovic with a baptism of fire at the home of football.

On paper, it’s a mismatch. But which betting markets could hold some value for the occasion?

This is where we’re looking…

Tip 1 – England to win to-nil @ 3/4

Sometimes you just shouldn’t overthink it.

England’s defensive record in this campaign is nothing short of remarkable. To have played six competitive qualifiers without your goalkeeper picking the ball out the net even once speaks volumes about the structure and discipline Tuchel has instilled in his short tenure.

Lest we forget, the Three Lions also dispatched this same Serbian side 5-0 in the reverse fixture in Belgrade just two months ago.

That result, coupled with England winning both of the last two head-to-heads without reply, paints a clear picture that could merit investment in the shape of England to win to-nil at 3/4.

Serbia are arriving not just in poor form but also without all-time leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was not selected for the squad, and just one of their last seven matches has seen both teams score.

All signs point towards another professional, clean-sheet victory for an England side that has made a habit of it.

Tip 2 – Harry Kane to score & assist @ 15/2

While the pressure is off for the hosts, the return of creative sparks like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to the squad suggests there will be no letting up as players vie for a seat on the plane next summer.

But, again, sometimes the sensible solution is also the most obvious one.

Step forward, Harry Kane. The captain has 23 goals and three assists in 17 Bayern Munich appearances this term, while that hunger doesn’t diminish in an England shirt as his 23 goals in 20 World Cup qualifiers demonstrate.

Forever the focal point of England’s attack, Kane remains a ruthless finisher but continues to display the vision and passing range of a top-class playmaker into the bargain.

And that’s why the ‘assist’ part of this tip is where the real value lies. With Serbia in a do-or-die situation, they will inevitably be forced to take risks, leaving space for England to exploit on the counter.

If the Serbs push forward in desperation, expect Kane to drop deep, pick up the ball and release the likes of Bukayo Saka, Foden or Marcus Rashford into the channels.

At 15/2, it’s a higher-risk bet because he has to both score and assist but, for a player like Kane, it’s a scenario that is far from fantasy given he has done exactly that eight different times before for England.

Tip 3 – Serbia/draw double chance @ 5/2

Now for the curveball. While logic dictates a comfortable England win, football is rarely that simple.

That vital 1% extra can be hard to find when the ultimate prize is already secured – and Tuchel may even choose to experiment with his lineup, handing opportunities to some of the fringe players.

Paunovic, who led the Serbia youth side to Under-20 World Cup glory 10 years ago, will first and foremost try to get the Eagles organised at the back and look to frustrate their hosts.

It would be remiss not to mention Serbia’s formidable away World Cup qualifying record: they haven’t lost on the road since 2017.

With their tournament hopes hanging by a thread, they have every incentive to scrap for a point or more.

At a price of 5/2, backing the hugely motivated underdog to at least avoid defeat against a host with nothing to play for could be worth a speculative punt.

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change.