Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute header gave England a 1-0 win over Serbia in their opening match of Euro 2024.
Three years after the heartbreaking loss to Italy in the Wembley final, the road to Berlin began with a tricky Group C opener in Gelsenkirchen.
But Gareth Southgate’s England sealed their victory over Serbia 1-0 thanks to a powerful early header from Bellingham to seal their place in the Euro 2024 opener.
The result left Denmark top of Group C after drawing 1-1 with Slovenia and setting up another clash between the Euro 2020 semi-finalists in Frankfurt on Thursday.
England started strongly at the Veltins Arena and looked set to cap an imposing performance when Bellingham powerfully headed in Bukayo Saka’s cross after 13 minutes.
But unlike fellow Euro 2024 favourites Germany and Spain, they were unable to break through as Serbia’s physicality and intelligence allowed them to take control after the start of the second half.
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England did well to contain the Balkans side, even seeing Harry Kane’s header hit the crossbar late on, but they need to improve going forward.
Still, it is a much better result than their quarter-final defeat to Portugal in Gelsenkirchen 18 years ago and means Southgate has now won each of his opening four matches of the tournament.
Much of the preparations for Sunday’s match have focused on what will happen around the game, after German police classified the match as “high risk.”
The Euros were the first time England supporters had travelled in large numbers to the tournament since 2016, and video footage emerged of several scuffles in the city centre.
But all seven of the arrests made before kick-off were Serbian, and Serbian fans retaliated by whistling “God Save the King” and booing the national anthem.
There was a fantastic atmosphere and the evening began with Southgate’s team dominating the ball and patiently probing to break through a well-drilled back five.
Bellingham was a formidable presence from the start and the midfielder’s efforts helped England take the lead after 13 minutes.
The 20-year-old Saka played a pass down the wing to Kyle Walker, who sprinted towards the box and cleverly slipped Saka in behind the Serbia defence.
The England forward’s cross was deflected off Strahinja Pavlovic and Bellingham headed home from six yards, becoming the first European player to play in three major tournaments before turning 21.
The Real Madrid star showed the necessary confidence and skill against a powerful Serbia side looking to upset England.
The Euro 2020 runners-up continued to press and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot went wide to give Serbia their first real chance.
Some miscontrol from the turned midfielder allowed former Fulham shooter Aleksandar Mitrovic to fire a shot from the edge of the box just wide of Jordan Pickford’s near post.
Walker made a quick run through but dragged the ball around in front of the goal, which resulted in a warning for England.
Serbia rallied and displayed their physical prowess, but impressive Marc Guehi, on his tournament debut, held firm in defence alongside John Stones.
England were forced into crucial interventions in the second half, with Dragan Stojkovic’s side failing to heed even the fiercest calls for penalties.
Mitrovic went down under pressure from Kieran Trippier but the referee didn’t allow it and the Serbia captain was quickly replaced by Dusan Tadic.
With tensions rising, England could only counter with a powerful strike from Alexander-Arnold.
Conor Gallagher was brought on for a Liverpool player and Jarrod Bowen was soon brought on for Saka as Southgate tried to inject some energy and change the balance of power.
The West Ham forward made an immediate impact, crossing for Kane in the 77th minute only for Predrag Rajkovic to tuck his header onto the crossbar.
Jordan Pickford was forced to deny Dusan Vlahovic a long-range shot and Kane headed Veljko Vilmančević’s shot straight down the field.
Serbia went close to scoring an equaliser but Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot went wide and the song “Sweet Caroline” echoed around the ground at the end of the match.
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