The Real Examiner of England's "Number 6," Elliot Anderson

BEOGRAD, MONDAY — For the first time under coach Thomas Tuchel's regime, the England national team will face a competitive match against a fairly equal opponent. This duel will also serve as a proving ground for 22-year-old midfielder Elliot Anderson, who shone brightly in his debut.

Tuchel once stated that England is lacking a defensive midfielder or "number 6." He even intends to play center-back John Stones in that position during the 2026 World Cup qualifying match of Group K against Serbia at Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, on Wednesday (10/9/2025) at 01:45 WIB.

Tuchel's plan emerged ahead of the match against Andorra last Saturday, before Stones was sent home due to injury. The role was taken over by Anderson, a debutant from Nottingham Forest, who became the driving force behind the 2-0 victory over Andorra. Anderson's impressive performance was praised by many, including Tuchel.

Anderson is capable of bridging attacks and protecting the defense. This is reflected in the statistics. He produced 107 successful passes with an accuracy of 94 percent, won duels seven times, and achieved a 100 percent success rate in tackles. "His physical quality is good. He is a very dynamic 'number 6'," said Tuchel.

Anderson's defensive aspect has become the most sought-after quality. Tuchel did not find that criterion previously, including from Kobbie Mainoo, who was trusted in the 2024 European Championship. "He enjoys defending. He puts in all his effort to win duels. It's great to see him," Tuchel added.

However, Anderson needs further evidence. Andorra, ranked 174th in the world, is still very far from the level of England. Coincidentally, the "Three Lions" are challenged by Serbia, which holds the status of the second strongest team in Group K. Serbia, ranked 32nd in the world, will be England's toughest opponent in the Tuchel era.

Happy with my debut performance, but it was nothing more than just one game.

The quality of the Serbian squad is quite balanced. They are reinforced by three players from the English Premier League, namely midfielder Sasa Lukic (Fulham), defender Nikola Milenkovic (Forest), and goalkeeper Djorjde Petrovic (Bournemouth). In the forward line, there is Dusan Vlahovic, who is the main striker for the Italian giant Juventus.

The host nation Serbia remains unbeaten and has not conceded a goal in three Group K matches, with 2 wins and 1 draw (7 points). The team, coached by Dragan Stojkovic, is positioned just one rank below England, which has achieved a clean sweep of four victories from four matches (12 points).

Anderson is aware of the challenges. He is determined to remain consistent in pursuing his dream of playing in the 2026 World Cup. "I am pleased with my debut performance, but it is nothing more than just one match. I will focus on the next match to continue making an impact," he said.

The versatile midfielder has been called up to the national team for the first time due to his impressive and consistent performances with Forest since last season. Anderson appeared 37 times out of 38 matches, contributing 2 goals and 6 assists in the English Premier League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, Forest successfully finished in the top seven.

Anderson's great potential was already evident before his move to Forest in the summer of 2024. Previously, he served as a substitute at Newcastle United for two consecutive seasons. Newcastle coach Eddie Howe stated that he had to let Anderson go due to financial considerations.

At Forest, Anderson was trained by the experienced coach Nuno Espirito Santo. His talent for playing in multiple positions was further explored. Last season, he occasionally appeared as an attacking midfielder and left winger in a 4-2-3-1 formation, although he more frequently played as a defensive midfielder.

Anderson possesses commendable qualities in the attacking line due to his experience playing as an attacking midfielder since his time at the Newcastle academy. However, his high work rate and defensive awareness have led to him being positioned further back. As a result, Tuchel seems to have gained multiple players in one body.

Anderson is not a tall and robust player, as is typically found in a defensive midfielder. He stands at only 179 centimeters. His physique also appears slender when compared to veteran midfielder Declan Rice. However, all of this is compensated by his tenacity and the great energy emanating from his body.

Thanks to Anderson, who maintained stability in the midfield, Tuchel was able to instruct other midfielders to focus on attacking. Rice, among others, was free to advance into the opponent's final third. Rice contributed one goal with a header in the penalty area during the match against Andorra.

On the other hand, the away match in Belgrade will also serve as a test for Tuchel. The coach has never faced a competitive match against a team that is not too far off in terms of quality. The biggest opponent for Tuchel's team so far has only been Albania, which is ranked 68th in the world.

The problem is that the "Three Lions" still appear unconvincing when facing teams like Andorra. They only managed to win narrowly due to difficulties in breaking through the opponent's "bus parking" strategy. "We will prove ourselves, win, and perform well in the next match," said Tuchel.

"We are looking forward to a very emotional stadium, with emotional spectators. We must adapt to that and be resilient. Then, we will face a very tough team physically. They have good quality in the attacking line. That will be our challenge," he continued. (AP/REUTERS)