Jude Bellingham ensured England’s Euro 2024 campaign began with a win, as his goal secured a 1-0 victory over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. However, the narrow triumph left questions about the Three Lions’ potential to secure their first European Championship.
Bellingham stood out, with the Real Madrid midfielder’s header in the 13th minute being the decisive moment in the match. Despite his impressive performance, England’s overall display lagged behind the standards set by Germany and Spain in their respective opening matches.
Entering the tournament with high expectations, England had won only one of their previous five matches, including a 1-0 loss to Iceland in their final warm-up game. With their full-strength squad, Gareth Southgate’s team showed initial dominance but failed to maintain that level throughout the match.
Serbia’s coach, Dragan Stojkovic, praised Bellingham as a future Ballon d’Or winner before the game, and the 20-year-old lived up to the billing. Displaying the confidence of a Champions League winner, Bellingham made a significant impact against the Serbian midfield.
“I feel like in every game I can make an impact. I can decide a game,” said Bellingham. “It’s a release for me to play football. It’s my favourite thing in the world, so I don’t feel any pressure when I go out there.”
Bellingham’s goal came from a deflected cross by Bukayo Saka, which he headed powerfully into the top corner. Despite England’s dominance in the first half, they struggled to extend their lead. Kyle Walker missed a key chance before halftime, shooting wide after a run into the box.
In the second half, England’s performance dipped, and they were fortunate not to concede. Defensive concerns loomed with Harry Maguire’s absence and Luke Shaw’s lack of match fitness. Marc Guehi, filling in for Maguire, was outpaced by Dusan Vlahovic, with Filip Mladenovic failing to capitalize on the resulting cross.
Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic had a penalty appeal turned down, and Luka Jovic missed a good chance from a Dusan Tadic pass. England’s defense held firm, with Southgate acknowledging their second-half struggles. “Second half we didn’t keep it as well as I would have liked, but to get the win is very important,” said Southgate. “We had to suffer a bit. I think to defend the box the way we did was really good for us.”
Substitutes Conor Gallagher and Jarrod Bowen were introduced to stabilize the team. Bowen’s cross set up Harry Kane for a header, which was saved by Serbia’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. Kane’s frustration continued as his most significant contribution came defensively, clearing a shot from Veljko Birmancevic.
Jordan Pickford made a late save from Vlahovic’s dipping shot, ensuring England held on for the win. While the three points were secured, England’s performance fell short of the dominant display expected from one of the tournament favorites.
