ENGLAND won their opening game of Euro 2024 – but the Three Lions were far from their best against Serbia.
Jude Bellingham powered home a header after just 13 minutes and Gareth Southgate’s side were impressive in the first half.
But Serbia were the much better side after the break and England struggled, just about getting over the line after withstanding long periods of pressure.
Bee BC
There was a little bit of a disturbance in the open-air BBC studio, which has been built next to the Brandenburg Gate.
Gary Lineker revealed he and his fellow pundits – Rio Ferdinand, Cesc Fabregas and Micah RIchards – were at one stage under attack from a HORNET.
Buk the trend
Bukayo Saka’s partner Tolami Benson was spotted in the crowd in Gelsenkirchen.
And the 23-year-old bombshell even wore a jacket in honour of Saka’s early days at Arsenal.
Beer we go
England fans will have enjoyed that win and so will have pub landlords.
An estimated 30million pints were sank on Sunday night in the build up and during Eng;and’s 1-0 win.
Alexander-Arnold passed his audition
SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere was pleased with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Serbia.
Read his column below.
Southgate on Bellingham
He writes his own script. The timing of his runs. It was a super bit of play in the build-up of his play. I think all of our forward players looked really good.
“I am confident we will score goals. Playing against a back give it is not easy to create chances and we did. I liked the fact we had to suffer without the ball because that is an area we have worked on a lot this week. We were obviously much better than last week at doing that.”
Gareth Southgate
Southgate on England’s win
They are a strong team. We had to suffer a bit which I think is really good for us. I think to defend the box the way we did was really good for us. I was really pleased with a lot of the play. Second half we didn’t keep it as well as I would have liked but to get the win is very important.”
Gareth Southgate
Player ratings
Jude Bellingham delivers a masterclass.
Phil Foden, not at his best. Read our player ratings below.
England match report
Jude Bellingham gets England off to a winning start.
Here’s what chief sports writer Dave Kidd thoughts of the game.
Bellingham’s pass map
It was an all-action display from Jude Bellingham.
But aside from his tackling and swashbuckling runs, his passing was exemplary too.
Bellingham’s stats
Here’s Jude Bellingham’s game by numbers.
He had a stonker. What a player.
More magic from Bellingham
With his match-winning goal this evening, Jude Bellingham has become just the second player ever to score at both a World Cup and a European Championship before the age of 21.
In achieving the feat, the Real Madrid star joins compatriot Michael Owen who did the business at both France ’98 and Euro 2000.
Bellingham also becomes the fifth England player to score his country’s opening goal at a tournament after Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Bryan Robson.
Kane: We stood up to test
England captain Harry Kane admitted that his team were up against it for long periods in the second half, but was pleased with the resilience shown.
Addressing the win, he added that the three points will go a long way to ensuring England make it successfully out of Group C.
We knew it was going to be a tough game. Serbia pose a lot of threats and have some good players. They will make it a battle for you and I think we dealt with it really well. There was a spell in the second half where we got camped in our box and we found it hard to get out but it was an important win tonight.
Harry Kane
Match Stats from Arena AufSchalke
England have now won the opening game in all four of their major tournaments played under Gareth Southgate.
They had only recorded five such victories across their other 23 major tournament appearances (W5 D11 L7).
Lions leaders of the pack
There will undoubtedly be a post-mortem on the performance ahead of Thursday’s fixture with Denmark, but England are two points clear at the top of Group C.
And with four third-place teams progressing from the group stage, the result could already be enough to land a spot in the knockout round of 16.
Credit: uefa.com Full time – Serbia 0-1 England
England begin with a win!
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t convincing. It wasn’t entertaining. But if football does end up coming home this summer, then nobody will recall the dreariness that made up much of this performance.
Serbia 0-1 England
90+3. Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold share a giggle in the dugout.
If only everyone else was as relaxed and assured as them.
Serbia 0-1 England
90+2. Bowen has blocked a number of passes and crosses since stoppage time started.
Who knew it would be the substitute’s defensive work that got England over the line?
Serbia 0-1 England
90. The board goes up to indicate a minimum of four additional minutes.
England are almost there.
Serbia 0-1 England
89. Milinkovic-Savic tries his luck from distance but lacks the accuracy to trouble Pickford.
The England keeper will take his time with his goalkick.
Serbia 0-1 England
88. Stones heads clear an excellent Mladenovic cross from the left.
It goes as far as Harry Kane, but the striker has nowhere to go.
It’s going to come straight back at England…
Serbia 0-1 England – England substitution
86. Jude Bellingham departs – but will it be as England’s matchwinner?
In his place is the more defence-minded Kobbie Mainoo, who is actually making his competitive debut for England.
Serbia 0-1 England
84. Dragan Stojkovic is giving the fourth official an earful, really just because he can.
He knows that time is ticking away on Serbia.
Serbia 0-1 England
82. Pickford tips over to deny Vlahovic!
Serbia are pushing for an equaliser now, and from the corner Birmancevic thumps a half volley into the ground that bounces up and loops towards goal.
Pickford would probably claim it, but Kane is taking no chances and heads powerfully clear before celebrating his defensive duties.
Serbia 0-1 England
80. Realising that the only alternative is a one-legged Luke Shaw, Trippier is up and able to continue.
Serbia 0-1 England
79. Kieran Trippier goes down with a knock.
Thankfully, this England squad is well stocked with left-backs.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
