Inside the Serbian horror tunnel facing England: 'It feels a mile long’ | OneFootball

England players face intimidating 73m-walk before entering red-hot atmosphere in Belgrade

It may look like something out of a horror film, but this is what is facing England in Serbia.

A 73-metre tunnel at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade that England players will pass through on their walk from the dressing room to the pitch.

Its walls are full red and white graffiti, drawn by Red Star Belgrade ultras, featuring googly eyes staring down at them.

The walk from the dressing room is 240m in total, the tunnel and the rest of the interior largely unchanged from when it was built in 1963.

AFP via Getty Images

England can expect a physically demanding match against a very capable Serbia side, but first they must come out the other side (literally) of this hostile entrance.

Red Star fans are called the ‘Delije’, the brave ones, and their stand is directly above the tunnel.

And just above? A decommissioned Yugoslav T-55 tank, of course, on display in the stadium forecourt.

Harry Kane played here for Tottenham in a Champions League match against Red Star in 2019.

“It was pretty hostile,” he said. “Even though they had one of the stands shut down, it was one of the loudest, especially pre-game and the warm-up.”

It should be no different tonight, the ground again at reduced capacity as the Serbian FA serves a part ban for racist abuse by supporters against Andorra in June.

AFP via Getty Images

England's sleepy wins over Andorran serve as no preparation for this novel experience.

Here is an entirely new affair in World Cup qualifying Group K for them, a true test of their mettle in a way what has come before was never going to be.

But before going toe to toe with Sasa Lukic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Djordje Petrovic and other well-known names comes this journey into the unknown for England.

A 240m journey, no shortcut available.