England edge Serbia in tight affair to open Euro 2024 campaign
England edges Serbia in a thrilling and tight affair to open their Euro 2024 campaign. Discover the match highlights, key moments, and standout performances in this exciting Euro 2024 opener
England edge Serbia in tight affair to open Euro 2024 campaign
Gelsenkirchen, Germany - England got their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start with a narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening Group C match at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
Bellingham's header the difference
Jude Bellingham's first-half header proved to be the difference between the two sides, as England held on to secure a hard-fought victory. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder rose highest to meet Bukayo Saka's cross in the 30th minute, and his powerful header flew past Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
Serbia threaten but fail to score
Serbia threatened an equalizer in the second half, with Dusan Tadic and Aleksandar Mitrovic both going close. However, England held on to claim all three points.
Southgate pleased with England's start
England manager Gareth Southgate was pleased with his side's performance. "It was a tough game, but we deserved the win," he said. "We showed good discipline and determination, and we're delighted to start the tournament with a victory."
Stojanovic rues missed chances
Serbia manager Dragan Stojanovic was frustrated with his side's defeat. "We created some good chances, but we couldn't take them," he said. "We're disappointed with the result, but we'll keep fighting for our place in the tournament."
Match statistics
| Statistic | England | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 53% | 47% |
| Shots | 13 | 12 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 3 |
| Corners | 6 | 4 |
| Fouls | 11 | 14 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Conclusion
England made a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia. They will now face Scotland in their next Group C match on Friday. Serbia, meanwhile, will need to improve in front of goal if they want to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Key talking points
- Jude Bellingham scores his first England goal.
- England show resilience to defend their lead.
- Serbia miss chances to snatch a point.
Did you know?
- This was England's first victory over Serbia in a competitive match since 2009.
- Jude Bellingham is the youngest player to score for England in a European Championship finals match.
- Serbia have never won a European Championship match against England.
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