England beat Serbia 1-0 making his debut in group C in the European Football Championships. Jude Bellingham’s goal decided the match in the 13th minute of the first half
ANSA Agency Clashes between Serbia and England fans. seven arrests – European Championships 2024 – Ansa.it One of those arrested is accused of “dangerous bodily harm” (ANSA) THE MATCH
Him again, Jude Bellingham. England’s boy wonder never ceases to amaze, nor to be a goalscorer, so he is the goal that, in Gelsenkirchen, knocks out Serbia. As too often happens to them in a major tournament, Milinkovic-Savic and his teammates miss the appointment, don’t play well and England, although not enchanting, take advantage of it. The goal that decided the match came after just 13 minutes, when Saka (one of his best players) drew a cross from the short side of the penalty area deflected by Pavlovic: Bellingham inserted himself with perfect timing and anticipated Zivković with a shot. head that leaves no way out for Rajkovic. So, with this umpteenth feat, the n. 10 English becomes the first player to score for the Three Lions national team both at the World Cup (he did it in Qatar) and at the European Championships, and as a member of a foreign team: first Borussia Dortmund and now Real Madrid. Not only that: at 20 years and 353 days of age, Jude also becomes a record holder for precocity, because, having also taken the field at Euro 2021, he is the first European player to have taken part in three major competitions for the national teams even before have reached the age of 21.
Euro 2024
All this to put their stamp today on a victory that will become deserved for England during the match, given that they dominated for 20 minutes and then held their ground well, also hitting the crossbar in the second half with Harry Kane, with a perfect header from a soft ball from Bowen. The name of coach Southgate’s striker, who praised Bellingham at the end of the match (“he’s an incredible player, sometimes you want to stop on the pitch to admire his play”) brings to mind that of another centre-forward, Vlahovic, lined up next to the untouchable Mitrovic and appeared slow and cumbersome, to the point of managing to finish towards Pickford only eight minutes from the end.
UEFA EURO 2024
The Juventus player was the symbol of a Serbia that in Gelsenkirchen, despite the noisy support of its fans, had run out of batteries. And therefore by continuing like this he will make little headway: but against Denmark and in the ‘derby’ with Slovenia he will not miss the opportunity to make up for it. But we will need to raise the level of performance significantly. And precisely taking into account the Serbs’ performance, some doubts remain about England’s role in this European Championship: they are one of the favourites, but they should have done better in the second half of this match. Unless, as often happens with the English, the tiredness of a too long season begins to be felt in the legs of the players who wear the shirt with the Three Lions. Southgate, who risks being benched if he doesn’t reach at least the semi-finals, keep his fingers crossed.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
