England got off to a winning start at Euro 2024 – but their 1-0 victory over Serbia was not entirely comfortable. Jude Bellingham scored the only goal just 13 minutes into the Group C clash in Gelsenkirchen.
The Real Madrid star met Bukayo Saka’s cross to nod England in front. At the time, it felt as though Gareth Southgate’s side would go on to score a big victory.
But Serbia caused the Three Lions huge problems. Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic all went close for Serbia. Jordan Pickford was in fine form, while John Stones and major tournament debutant Marc Guehi defended excellently.
Harry Kane – who was largely anonymous throughout – thumped the crossbar in the second half. The Bayern Munich forward met Jarrod Bowen’s cross but was superbly denied by Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
England just about held on to a narrow win. Southgate and his players will care little about how it was achieved.
The Three Lions face Denmark on June 20 before rounding off Group C against Slovenia on June 25.