England achieved a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Serbia in the debut of both teams in the Euro 2024a clash that was played at the AufSchalke stadium in Gelsenkirchen.
A header in the 13th minute of Jude Bellinghamthe star of Real Madrid, gave the victory to the English team that leaves them leader of group C after the tie at one goal in the clash between Denmark and Slovakia.
The play arose from Kyle Walkercontinued by Bukayo Saka and Bellingham finished it off to give the three points to the team from Gareth Southgatewho hardly suffered in the first half, but did and more than necessary in the second.
At 20 years and 353 days, Bellingham becomes the third youngest player to score a goal for his country, surpassed only by Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
The Real Madrid footballer scored 0-1 with a header in the 13th minute of the match, in which he started as a starter for the first time in a Euro Cup, after his participation in the previous 2021 edition, when he played three of the seven matches. but all three as substitutes.
Video England goal! Bellingham finishes perfectly for 0-1
The Real Madrid striker appeared to score the precise header, after a cross from Bukayo Saka.
‘Hey Jude, Hey Jude’thousands of English people shouted when he was changed in the 85th minute, when he gave way to a centre-half, Mainoo, because Southgate saw everything in danger in the final moments.
Because England won because of their shot. The English team, from whom much more was expected, was not much more. When Gareth Southgate revealed his eleven, the world looked impressed. Foden, Bellingham, Saka and Kanand. The symphony sounded perfect, clear, imposing. On the field he reduced his volume tremendously. But it was decisive. Three of them participated in the first goal. She doesn’t even need to play at a high level to be definitive. An incalculable value. It is worth beating certain teams. Is it enough for her to be European champion?
Although a succession of individuals of such magnitude is not an absolute guarantee, there are hardly any teams in the world that have as much power or as much punch in attack as the current English team; runner-up in 2021, among the favorites in 2024. There is no middle ground for her. He has never won this tournament. And there is a lot of pressure.
It is not easy to overwhelm Serbia at any time. Far from their past, probably, when they dominated the final phases at the beginning of the Euro Cup, footballers like Kostic (injured before the break), Milinkovic Savic, Vlahovic or Mitrovic They describe a group of power at the top, which is firm at the back; the option that Stojkovic opted for against the rival level.
From Bellingham’s goal, who not only scores goals, but plays as much as he wants, with a ease that exudes extraordinary simplicity, England broke Serbia’s plan, but also led it to a scenario that it did not dislike either. Freed from the defensive precautions, invalid since the 13th minute, he dared to take a step forward. To believe it.
And the Balkan team has the equipment to play on the attack, as Vlahovic demonstrated when he tested his forehand. Out. The striker has lessened the impact with which he astonished Europe not long ago. The offense also involves excessive exposure against an opponent of the caliber of the one he faced. Kyle Walker They went around the field to center anyone, then Bukayo Saka couldn’t find a finisher in another run down the right. Nothing else.
Video The tie is close! Mitrovic does not take advantage of defensive error
Alexander-Arnold gave the ball away in the low zone, but Aleksandar’s shot went wide.
Because, in all the splendor of the names in their starting lineup, England must also demand more from me. Within the complexity, he lacked consistency in his offensive. He did not create a number of chances as his resources and his overflow suggest. The next one, well into the second half, was a shot from Alexander Arnoldmidfielder this Sunday.
Needs more ambition. And he must also adjust in defense, because he granted options that are decisive in greater challenges. It was not certain, amid the feeling that the edge of victory, so minimal, with only a 0-1 in favor, was so thin that any carelessness would be fatal. England still committed some more. She didn’t take advantage of it. Serbia, which demanded the VAR and a penalty on Mitrovic. She didn’t seem like it.
By then the British team was already playing with fire, which had the sentence in a header from Kane that rebounded against the Rajkovi crossbarc, but it also required the stretching of Pickford to prevent Vlahovic from scoring 1-1, between the ups and downs, already within the resistance mode that England opted for for the final stretch. Or since much before. Too complacent with a single goal. From Bellingham, the leader of the leader of group C of Euro 2024.
Video Serbia wants a tie! Pickford appears again against Vlahovic
The Juventus player took the shot from distance and Jordan put his hand in to send the ball over.
