Serbia-England 0-1 in the AufSchalke Arena of Gelsenkirken.
English closer to doubling that you keep for a draw.
Thanks to these three points Southgate’s team moves to the top of group C, with Denmark and Slovenia chasing at 1 point ahead of bottom-placed Serbia.
First half of the game with Southgate’s best team on the pitch having greater ball possession and intensity. Bellingham scored a nice header with which England ended the first half with the lead. Little Serbia found the measure to react at the end.
In the second half the national team led by Dragan Stojković is decidedly more aggressive. Equalizing opportunities for the Serbs in the 59th and 82nd minutes with Vlahović but the best offensive action was for England in the 77th minute when a sensational intervention by Rajković denied Southgate’s men a second goal
The official lineups
Serbia (3-4-2-1): Rajković ; Milenković,, Veljković, Pavlović, Zivković, Lukić, Gudelj, Kostić, with Sergej Milinković-Savić Vlahovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Mitrovic. Coach Dragan Stojković
England (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane. CT Southgate
Previous
Throughout football history, there had been 15 matches between the two teams: 4 victories for Serbia, 5 draws and 6 victories for England.
Wikipedia
The Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen stadium
The match
Southgate’s formation decisive part. With greater ball possession, Serbia was crushed in their own half in the first 10 minutes of the game.
England ahead in the 13th minute with Bellingham. In the Three Lions’ first real offensive action, a through pass to Saka who sees his teammates in the area: Kane attacks the near post, leaving the ball to Bellingham’s head for the English lead.
Serbia tries to lift the center of gravity and in the 20th minute he responds with Mitrović who shoots to the side of the net, after receiving from Živković due to an error by Alexander-Arnold: he misses the aim.
In the 25th minute there was a chance to double the lead wasted by England. Very fast counterattack by the English, Walker enters the area but instead of trying to finish he chooses to serve a teammate in the center but no one takes up the invitation.
Half an hour of play has passed Southgate’s selection lowered the center of gravity by decreasing his pressure.
Serbia loses Kostić due to injury, replaced by Mladenović in the 42nd minute.
At 45’+2′ England risks being reached. Clumsy intervention by Stones, the English defender confuses goalkeeper Pickford. Serbia wins a corner, which referee Orsato sends the teams to half-time.
Upon returning to the field Serbia much more aggressive than in the first 45′.
In the 53rd minute Vlahović puts it in the middle a great ball for Mladenović who makes the save. Serbia close to a draw.
The Serbs persisted and came close in the 59th minute equal again. Deep throw by Sergej Milinković-Savić for Mladenović’s run. The substitute crosses to the center fouled by Stones, Mitrović doesn’t reach it due to Trippier’s push and the ball is recovered by Pickford. Serbian protests over a possible penalty.
Game time is over Southgate’s team is in difficulty, rarely leaving its own half and attempting an offensive move.
In the 77th minute England burst into flamesensational intervention by Rajković who, with a crazy reflex, blocks Kane’s close-range header, sending the ball against the crossbar and then out.
Vlahović scores from distance Pickford in the 82nd minute. The English goalkeeper sends it high over the crossbar,
Boarding of Serbia in the last minutes of the game but after 5′ of injury time Orsato’s whistle ends the match with the result 1-0 for England over Serbia,
