Bellingham Leads England to Narrow Win Over Serbia in Euro 2024 Opener
Jude Bellingham initiated England's Euro 2024 campaign with a win, securing a 1-0 victory against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. However, the performance did little to alleviate concerns about England's chances of clinching their first European Championship title.
The Real Madrid midfielder stood out, scoring the only goal with a header in the 13th minute, showcasing his individual brilliance. Despite his standout performance, the team's overall play failed to meet the high standards set by Germany and Spain in their respective opening matches.
Expectations for England are high, but the team had won just one of their previous five matches, including a 1-0 loss to Iceland in their final warm-up before heading to Germany. With a full-strength squad, Gareth Southgate's men started strongly, reminiscent of their Euro 2020 finalist form.
Serbia's coach Dragan Stojkovic praised Bellingham as a future Ballon d'Or winner, and the 20-year-old lived up to the hype, displaying exceptional skill and confidence. "I feel like in every game I can make an impact. I can decide a game," Bellingham stated. "It's a release for me to play football. It's my favourite thing in the world, so I don't feel any pressure when I go out there."
Bellingham's goal came from a powerful header following a deflected cross from Bukayo Saka. Despite a dominant first half, England failed to capitalize further, with Kyle Walker missing a key opportunity to extend the lead.
The second half saw England adopt a more defensive stance, which nearly cost them. Concerns about their defense were highlighted by the absence of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw's lack of match fitness. Marc Guehi, filling in for Maguire, struggled at times, notably being outpaced by Dusan Vlahovic and missing a crucial interception on Filip Mladenovic's cross.
Serbia had their chances, with Aleksandar Mitrovic's penalty appeal dismissed and Luka Jovic failing to control a pass from Dusan Tadic. "Second half we didn't keep it as well as I would have liked, but to get the win is very important," Southgate commented. "We had to suffer a bit. I think to defend the box the way we did was really good for us."
Substitutions were made to regain control, with Conor Gallagher and Jarrod Bowen entering the field. Bowen quickly made an impact, setting up Harry Kane for a header that was expertly saved by Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. Kane's frustration was evident, as his notable defensive header came in response to a goal-bound shot from Veljko Birmancevic.
Jordan Pickford made a crucial late save from Vlahovic's dipping shot, securing England's victory. While the win provided three points, it fell short of the dominant performance expected from one of the tournament's favorites.
