Serbia 0-1 England
England got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over a battling Serbia at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham headed England into an early lead and that was enough to see the Three Lions through, but they were pushed hard by Serbia who improved significantly after a lacklustre first half display.
The tournament favourites, according to the Euro 2024 betting odds, well in the UK anyway, England have a chance to lay the ghost of their Euro heartbreak in 2021, the next four weeks give Gareth Southgate’s men a chance for redemption. They dominated the first half but this wasn’t a hugely convincing win.
In the early Sunday kick-off, Denmark and Slovenia played out a 1-1 draw and that means England lead Group C while Serbia are bottom, but head coach Dragan Stojkovic can be pleased with his players efforts if not the result.
Highlights of the game
The opening exchanges could hardly have gone better for Southgate as his team played with confidence, fluidity and clarity of purpose, moving the ball quickly, and it paid off with just 12 minutes on the clock. In a flowing move Kyle Walker found Bukayo Saka on the overlap and his slightly deflected cross was met by Golden Boy Bellingham and he planted a superb header in the top right corner.
England were purring, but they were almost caught out when Trent Alexander-Arnold dithered on the ball and former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic stole in and fired a fierce shot inches wide.
With two well organised teams playing well, chances for the most part of the first half were rare though the dangerous Saka was constantly probing down the right wing. And, while England dominated possession for the first half hour or so, Serbia reminded the Three Lions they were in a game as they finished the first half strongly.
And the underdogs started the second half strongly as midfield general Sergej Milinkovic Savic began to impose himself on the game and England’s defence had to work hard and soak up some pressure while, at the other end of the pitch Trent stung the hands of Real Mallorca keeper Predraj Rajkovic.
Stojkovic brought the experienced Dusan Tadic on and he almost created a goal when he threaded a ball through to Luka Jovic, but the Milan man couldn’t get his shot away with just Jordan Pickford to beat.
Southgate brought Jarrod Bowen on and the West Ham man very nearly created a goal for England. He stole a yard down the right wing and stood up a brilliant cross for Harry Kane and the Bayern man powered in a header which Rajkovic tipped onto the cross bar. It was Kane’s first chance of the game and he didn’t do anything wrong as the Serbia stopper showed great strength to keep the ball out of the net. And then Pickford preserved England’s lead with a fingertip save of a blistering drive from Dusan Vlahovic.
Milinkovic-Savic tried his luck from distance but his shot flew wide and that was that, as England held out for a rare opening match win.
Key statistics
This was the first clash between England and Serbia since the latter became an independent state in 2006; and this is Serbia’s first finals tournament.
In contrast England have played 39 games in the European Championships and, now in their 11th tournament, no team has played more games without winning it.
With one win in four games in 2024 Southgate’s men came into this match in need of a strong performance and they dominated for much of the first half but, incredibly, captain Harry Kane only had two touches. And by the end of the game, with 53 per cent possession and losing the shot count by six to five, this was hardly an England performance to scare their rivals.
Serbia had two wins from four this year and, on this evidence, they look capable of living with the best teams in Europe.
What’s next?
The weekend’s other Euro 2024 results saw hosts Germany hammer Scotland 5-1 in the tournament opener, while Spain picked up an impressive 3-0 victory over Croatia and reigning champions Italy survived an early scare to beat neighbours Albania 2-1.
And the big match action just keeps on coming for SBOTOP and Euro fans.
On Monday two more big guns are in action as Belgium play Slovakia and France face Austria; and then, on Thursday Group C is back on when the Three Lions face Denmark and Serbia meet up with Slovenia.
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