To close the first week of Euro 2024 I am England And Serbia, protagonists of the 9pm match which, as predicted, sees the English taking the lead in the first half of the game without much difficultydemonstrating a clear superiority already in the first 45 minutesin which it is very often Serbia that gets into trouble on its own, losing bloody balls in its half of the pitch, making the opponents’ work easier.
The goal that unlocks the match comes in the 13th minute Bellingham, who heads a cross from Saka which becomes dangerous only after the deviation of Pavlovic, than dirtying the ball of the Arsenal winger makes him playable for the number 10, who anticipates Zivkovic and gives his team the advantage.
Serbia-England, 3 heavy points for Southgate’s team
The tactical plan of the match changes in the second half, with the Serbia who raises his center of gravity in the opponent’s half of the field, keeping the 11 of Southgate, but the technical factor prevails over the tactical one and the difference between the players of the two teams plays a fundamental role: despite the Serbian dominance, it is in fact England who come closest to scoring with Kane, which however he opposes Rajkovic, who keeps the result standing with a great parade, which Vlahovic and companions fail to overturn.
Serbia-England, the scoreboard:
Serbia (3-4-1-2): Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic (from 74th Birmancevic), Lukic (from 61st Jovic), Gudelj (from 46th Ilic), Kostic (from 43rd Mladenovic); Milinkovic-Savic; Mitrovic (from 61st Tadic), Vlahovic. CT: O. Stojkovic.
Available: Petrovic, Tadic, Mladenovic, Ilic, Samardzic, Lovic, Gacinovic, Stojic, Maksimovic, Ratkov, Babic, Mijailovic, Spajic, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Birmancevic.
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold (from the 69th Gallagher), Rice; Saka (from 76th Bowen), Bellingham (from 86th Mainoo), Foden; Kane. CT: G. Southgate.
Available: Ramsdale, Wharton, Gordon, Palmer, Gallagher, Henderson, Eze, Konsa, Toney, Bowen, Gomez, Mainoo, Dunk, Shaw, Watkins.
Networks: Bellingham in 13th (I).
Warnings: Gudelj (S), Tadic (S), Gallagher (I).
Expulsions: Nobody
Recoveries: 3′, 4′
