Serbia vs England LIVE! Euro 2024 result, match stream, latest reaction and updates after Three Lions win – Evening Standard
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Serbia vs England – LIVE!
England survived a second-half scare as they battled to a 1-0 win over Serbia in their opening match at Euro 2024. It was a superb start from the Three Lions, full of purpose and attacking threat, and they were rewarded when Jude Bellingham arrived on the scene to head home from Bukayo Saka’s cross for a 13th minute opener.
There was a feeling that would set the stage for a comfortable night for, but it was not to be. Serbia responded well as Gareth Southgate’s side dropped off in the closing stages of the first-half, and England were firmly under pressure after the break. The chance to put the match to bed came with just over ten minutes remaining, as Jarrod Bowen, just on to replace Bukayo Saka, skipped into space on the right and stood up a cross to the back post, where Harry Kane’s header was superbly tipped onto the bar.
Without the comfort of a second goal it was a nervy conclusion, Dusan Vlahovic forcing Jordan Pickford into an acrobatic save, but England just about held firm to ensure it was a successful start to their bid for European glory.
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Before a ball had been kicked at this tournament, England’s star attraction had, with the help of some Adidas marketing moguls, inflated his talismanic image and breathed new life into the nation’s most tired pop song.
But once the kicking started? Well, Hey Jude, that wasn’t bad.
On England’s launch night here in Gelsenkirchen, it was Jude Bellingham’s header that ensured an increasingly dicey meeting with Serbia ended in a 1-0 win, three points on the board and, given the threshold for qualifying, an early foot in the knockout stage.
Read our full analysis here!
“They’re a strong team, we had to suffer a bit, which I think is really good for us. To come through and defend our box the way we did under pressure is important for the group.
“We obviously had good chances to extend the lead and kill the game, which we didn’t manage to take.
“I was really pleased with a lot of the play. Especially the first-half, I thought we used the ball really well. Second-half we didn’t keep it quite as well as we need to, but to get the win and the start that we have is really important.”
Jude Bellingham has been reflecting on that opening win.
He’s not convinced by the “ugly win” description…
Kane certainly more involved in the second-half, and he very nearly doubled England’s lead.
That would have made it a far more comfortable final ten minutes, but it was a sensational save to deny him.
Jude Bellingham 8
Took his goal brilliantly in an outstanding, all-action first-half display, in which he ran the game. He was less influential in the second half and appeared frustrated at England’s reactive approach.
Phil Foden 5
Neat and tidy but nowhere near as influential as he is for Manchester City. There will inevitably be questions about whether Southgate can best the best from Bellingham and Foden after this game.
Harry Kane 6
Remarkably, the England captain finished the first half with just one touch, as Bellingham ran the show. He was more involved after the break, when his hold-up play was excellent, and he was unlucky not to double England’s lead when his close-range header was turned onto the bar by the goalkeeper.
Read those ratings in full here!
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, Serbia pose a lot of threats and have some good players. They will make it a battle for you and I think we dealt with it really well.
“There was a spell in the second half where we got camped in our box and we found it hard to get out but it was an important win tonight.
“It’s a tough game. They are a tough team and have good players. We stood up to it well and it is good to get the three points and [for us] to progress. It’s good that we got the win today.”
England get the job done and have already taken a huge step towards the knockouts.
They were not convincing, though, particularly after half-time, and there’s work to do for Gareth Southgate ahead of tougher tests to come.
The midfield question still open after a mixed display from Trent Alexander-Arnold and can Southgate get the best from Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden?
Marc Guehi was very good, though.
With Denmark and Slovenia drawing earlier, it’s England sitting top of the pile in Group C.
Victory over Denmark on Thursday and the Three Lions will be into the knockout stages with time to spare.
If not, it will come down to that final clash against Slovenia.
Full-time – job done!
Three points for England, that’s all that really matters.
First 30 minutes were superb, next 60 not particularly great, but the Three Lions are up and running. That’ll do for now.
90+3 mins: That’ll do nicely.
Kane with a lovely flop, right in front of the Serbian bench and wins a free-kick.
Wouldn’t say it goes down very well.
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