A first-half Jude Bellingham bullet header was enough to edge England past a difficult Serbia side in their Euro 2024 opener in Gelsenkirchen.
It was a typically unglamorous European Championship opener for the Three Lions, who come into the tournament as one of the media favourites.
The early stages saw Gareth Southgate’s side take control of possession in the opponents’ half, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka looking threatening with direct dribbling runs and attempts to create chances for his teammates.
It was from a Saka cross, albeit a deflected one, that England found their goal, when the right winger latched onto an incisive through ball from Kyle Walker, and the looping ball was met strongly by the box-crashing Bellingham.
The 20-year-old has been lauded for his performances at club level in his debut season for Real Madrid, bagging a La Liga and Champions League double, but his national team showing tonight showed more signs of a youngster who takes everything in his stride.
The Birmingham City academy graduate was the best player on the park in the ArenaAuf Schalke, but played a distinctly different role than usual.
Typically in Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos side, Bellingham is the most advanced central player, buoyed by three deeper midfielders and operating as a clear attacking option.
Whilst there was no doubt about the starlet contributing in an offensive manner tonight, it was most notable how he constantly looked to receive the ball, whether it be in wider or deeper areas, and resisted the pressure of oncoming Serbians.
His midfield partner, converted-right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, showed some growing pains in adapting to a new role when he gifted Aleksandar Mitrovic the ball on the edge of his own box.
The Al-Hilal forward fired just wide of goal, but the opportunity seemed to grant Dragan Stojkovic’s side a level of confidence which turned the game’s momentum.
After the opening 30 minutes, it was Serbia who controlled the ball better and in more important areas, though they struggled to find the right passes in the final third, and more direct attempts were dealt with by the central defensive pairing of John Stones and Mark Guehi.
On his tournament debut, the Crystal Palace defender looked composed throughout, whether it be distributing play or dealing with cross balls and passes aimed towards Serbia’s strike duo, and his understanding with Stones will comfort Southgate, who entered the tournament without a clear defensive partnership.
Serbia actually outshot England, and substitute forward Luka Jovic may well be replaying his opportunity shortly after entering play, with the AC Milan striker just unable to control a through ball which snuck in behind the opposing defence.
It wasn’t a thriller, and probably stands out as the early tournament’s dullest encounter, but it said so much about one of the tournament’s contenders, and underdogs.
The fact that Harry Kane, one of Europe’s most feared marksmen, touched the ball only twice in the first half, though he did later hit the bar from a header, speaks volumes as to how little England managed to create or control the game, and also how his tendency to drop deeper could be hurting his international game.
Phil Foden, the Premier League’s best player last season, struggled to make an impression, partly because Serbia managed to pin multiple players on him, but also partly because of him, Kane and Bellingham clashing in similar positional zones.
Serbia meanwhile, will take lessons of their own.
On their Euros debut as a totally independent nation, Orlovi managed to take the game away from one of Europe’s top nations, and not only defended well as a unit but also managed to retain great hordes of possession.
They will however be kicking themselves that slower transitions and forays into attacking areas didn’t result in more chances, something they’ll need to improve in their next game against Slovenia.
Serbia XI: Rajkovic (GK), Pavlovic, Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Kostic, Gudelj, Lukic, Zivkovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Vlahovic, Mitrovic
Subs used: Mladenovic, Ilic, Tadic, Jovic, Birmancevic
England XI: Pickford (GK), Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Saka, Foden, Kane
Subs used: Gallagher, Bowen, Mainoo
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