Maximum result with minimum effort for theEngland which beats Serbia 1-0, thanks to the goal scored by Jude Bellingham, and flies to the top of group C alone. For the national team coached by Gary Southgate, the debut match at Euro 2024 played at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen was not at all unforgettable with the Three Lions capitalizing on one of the few opportunities they had throughout the match. It is true that the Serbs also had little chance to strike, more thanks to the English defensive line than to their own demerits with Vlahovic and Mitrovic served poorly by their teammates. Among the ranks of the English Bellingham did well and not only for the goal, the careful and precise defensive line but also Kane, unlucky with the crossbar hit, and Saka who scored the assist, while Foden was a little overshadowed.
England’s victory is all in all deserved even if it will be necessary to significantly increase the pace to be able to go as far as possible in this event, with the European vice-champions who are considered among the pool of favorites to win the tournament. Full points therefore for the Three Lions national team who thus won on their debut, also taking advantage of the 1-1 draw between Slovenia and Denmark in a group that, on paper, was not particularly difficult. In the next round England will play against the Danes on Thursday 20 June at 6pm while Serbia and Slovenia will face each other on the same day but at 3pm.
The match report
First half
After 10′ of substantial balance and study of theEngland Jude Bellingham took the lead straight away in the 13th minute. Saka escapes to the wing and puts it in the middle with his right, the Real Madrid player bursts into the penalty area and hits Rajkovic with his head. The Serbian response in the 20th minute: defensive error by Alexander-Arnold with Zivkovic recovering the ball and serving Mitrovic whose shot goes wide. In the 25th minute the English doubled their lead: Saka exchanged very well with Walker who entered the penalty area in a forceful manner but the shot from an excellent position went wide. Saka still uncontainable in the 37th minute: the Arsenal player jumps Pavlovic and puts it in the middle in an insidious way but no teammate is ready to kick on goal. At the end of the first half Kostic was forced out, in tears, due to injury and Mladenovic replaced him.
Second half
Coach Stojkovic immediately inserts Ilic in place of the booked Gudelj with the Serbia certainly more aggressive than the first fraction. The first scoring opportunity of the second half, however, still belongs to England who shoots in the 56th minute with Alexandre-Arnold: Rajkovic blocks with his fists. In the 59th minute Mladenovic serves Mitrovic in the penalty area who is somehow closed by an English defender with Pickford coming out low and fasuaing it. In the 77th minute, a nice assist from Gallagher for Kane who takes off with a header: Rajkovic gets his hand in and the ball hits the crossbar. In the 82nd minute we finally see Vlahovic too: a teammate passes to the Juventus striker who controls and unleashes his left foot: Pickford takes refuge in the corner. On the following corner, Birmancevic shoots from distance with Kane who heads it past Pickford. In the final Serbia was not very aggressive and England closed in defense to protect the precious 1-0 final.
The scoreboard
SERBIA (3-5-2): Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic (74′ Birmancevic), S. Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj (46′ Ilic), Lukic (61′ Jovic), Kostic (42′ Mladenovic); Mitrovic (61′ Tadic), Vlahovic. Coach Dragan Stojkovic
ENGLAND (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold (69′ Gallagher), Rice, Bellingham (86′ Maimoo); Saka (76′ Bowen), Kane, Foden. Coach Gary Southgate
Markers: 13′ Bellingham (I)
Warned: Gudelj (S), Tadic (S), Stojkovic (S)
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
Stadium: Veltins Arena (Gelsenkirchen)
