THE BBC’s coverage of England’s win over against Serbia has been hit by a couple of issues.First, fans begged Beeb bosses to clean the filthy windows in their studio.BBC pundits had to deal with massive hornetsThings started well for England on the fieldCredit: GettyAnd then their pundits were attacked by hornets during the half-time break.Just as the players were returning for the second half, host Gary Lineker told viewers about their unwanted guests.Micah Richards quickly changed the subject as all he wanted to talk about was pitchside reporter Joe Hart’s tight shirt.The former England stopper’s fashion sense was not the only thing picked up on.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Fans claimed Hart’s bizarre arm tattoos made him “look like a zebra crossing.”England took the lead through Jude Bellingham before Harry Kane had touched the ball.The Three Lions flew out of the blocks and Jordan Pickford, in particular, was riled up before the game.BBC cameras captured England’s No1 stopper – who is being cheered on by his wife Megan Davison – firing up fans as he walked to the goal.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSTrent showed he’s a central character for England… he deserves to keep spot, says Wilshere
THIS game felt a bit like an audition for Trent Alexander-Arnold in centre midfield, writes SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere.
I think he passed it and deserves another chance to show all the qualities that he can bring to the role.
I was pleased when I saw Trent in the starting line-up.
It’s a little bit braver than we have normally seen from Gareth Southgate and I like that.
It was: ‘Go on, go and play!’ It didn’t necessarily work out like that but that wasn’t Trent’s fault.
Southgate was experimenting with him in there, seeing if it worked.
If we get later in the tournament against the big teams, you will need someone who has played in there a few times and understands the position a bit.
The combination between Trent, Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka is a promising one.
You see Trent naturally drift over to that right side and receive it almost like a full-back.
It’s interesting what happens then with Walker.
He was still getting involved in and around the outside, which was good to see, and it was Walker who got forward to help create the Jude Bellingham goal.
That link-up is something we need to exploit more. We should probably have used it more last night as well.
At the start, he was a little bit shaky. He gave the ball away a couple of times, and one of them led to that decent chance for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
When he plays for Liverpool he comes inside. But it’s different when you’re in there from the start. It’s 360 degree pressure, from all sides.
I always found international football that bit quicker. You’ll often receive it with your back to the game and you’ve scanned, but you need to get more on the half turn to see what’s coming.
But it was difficult for Trent, especially in the first half, for him to show his range of passing. When you’re playing against a back five, with four in front, and they’re stubborn and just waiting . . . it is very hard.
There’s no space in behind, they’re very tight and organised.
And when the ball is going over your head, your job then becomes jumping on second balls, disrupting and trying to shield the big two up front.
Trent’s positioning was good and he made some good interceptions. I think he can — and should — hold on to the ball a bit more, draw the pressure, and then play the ball forward.
If someone comes to him, that frees up space for someone else. And he and Declan Rice have the ability to find Bellingham and Phil Foden through the lines. I would like to have seen more of that. As the game opens up, Trent is a player who can pick the right pass.
Especially in transition, like he did with a lovely one down the side for Saka in the first half and another early in the second.
It was also good to see him get forward for a decent long-range shot.
But Trent was not helped by England’s performance in the second half. We weren’t aggressive enough, we didn’t press well enough.
Trent’s audition lasted just under 70 minutes in the end. I believe it is something Gareth should persist with.
He is more than intelligent enough to work it out. And as the tournament goes on, I’m sure he will be fine in there.
Bellingham unveiled a new celebration after scoring.The playmaker and Trent Alexander-Arnold both took a knee and placed their palm over their face, with some fans saying it reminded them of WWE star Booker T.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYWyett ratings England v SerbiaBellingham, 20, had a busy first half as he showed off the other side to his game.After dispossessing Filip Kostic of the ball he celebrated in the Serb’s face before shoving his opponent.The Juventus ace did not take kindly to the incident, and could be seen having a pop at Bellingham as he walked off.Serbia were much improved after the break but the Three Lions held on to triumph 1-0.BBC and ITV’s Euro 2024 line up in fullHere’s how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend More
