Jude Bellingham headed the only goal in Gelsenkirchen as the EURO 2020 runners-up kicked off their 2024 campaign with a narrow Group C victory.
Jude Bellingham celebrates with Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring for England
Runners-up at UEFA EURO 2020, England began their EURO 2024 campaign with a narrow Group C victory against Serbia at the Arena AufSchalke thanks to an early Jude Bellingham header.
Key moments
13′: Bellingham heads in deflected Saka cross
20′: Mitrović fires narrowly wide
24′: Walker pulls shot across face of goal
60′: Mitrović crowded out by Pickford and Trippier
77′: Kane header pushed against bar by Rajković
82′: Pickford tips over Vlahović shot
Match in brief: England begin with a win
Jude Bellingham dives to head in at the Arena AufSchalke
England began promisingly, enjoying plenty of early possession against opponents who dropped everyone behind the ball at regular intervals – and within 13 minutes Serbia’s game plan had been undone. A perfectly-weighted Kyle Walker pass set up Bukayo Saka for a cross from the right that deflected off the sliding Strahinja Pavlović and looped up perfectly for the fast-arriving Bellingham to thump a header past Predrag Rajković.
Serbia threatened an immediate response as Aleksandar Mitrović fired narrowly wide and Dušan Vlahović had a shot blocked, but at the other end the lively Saka – dangerous throughout the first half – released Walker for a burst into the area that ended in a cross-shot across the face of goal.
Although England had looked in control, Serbia had shown enough to suggest they continued to carry a threat, and early in the second half substitute Filip Mladenović was close to providing the finishing touch to Vlahović’s low driven cross. Trent Alexander-Arnold stung Rajković’s palms as England replied in kind, although it then took a combination of Jordan Pickford and Kieran Trippier to prevent Mitrović forcing in an equaliser.
Serbia’s replacements had reinvigorated the team and Dušan Tadić so nearly played in Luka Jović, but it was England who were closest to a second goal, Rajković palming a Harry Kane header against the crossbar. Pickford did have to push Vlahović’s shot over in the closing stages, but that was as close as Serbia came to an equaliser.
Serbia vs England: as it happened, reaction
Vivo Player of the Match: Jude Bellingham (England)
“Decisive offensively and defensively, covered a lot of ground, involved all through the match and scored the decisive goal.”
Aleksandra Stojković, Serbia reporter
Two different faces of Serbia: very reserved in the first and playful and creative in the second. They were tactically disciplined in both defence and attack and their build-up play was something to be proud of. Despite the result, the Eagles should be proud of what they showed in their opening game of the tournament.
Joe Terry, England reporter
Ultimately a professional performance and just the start England would have wanted. Based on the first 15 minutes, perhaps they might have expected more goals, but they managed the second half well and ultimately tournament football is about the long game, so Gareth Southgate will be pleased. Yet another reminder, if we needed it, of Bellingham’s importance to this team.
Reaction
Bukayo Saka enjoyed a productive evening down England’s right
Key stats
Jude Bellingham after putting England in front
- England are unbeaten in their last 12 EURO group stage matches (W8 D4), since a 2-1 defeat against France in their opening fixture at EURO 2004.
- The Three Lions have not conceded a goal in their last five EURO group stage matches.
- Aged 20 years 353 days, Bellingham is the youngest player to appear in two EURO final tournaments.
- Bellingham is also England’s third youngest finals goalscorer, behind Wayne Rooney (18 years 237 days, 2004) and Michael Owen (20 years 189 days, 2000)
- Harry Kane played in his 12th EURO finals game, taking him one clear of Gary Neville as England’s outright all-time record appearance-maker in the tournament.
- This was Serbia’s first EURO finals match since 2000.
- Serbia have won only one of their last 12 EURO matches (D2 L9).
- This was only the fourth of Serbia’s last 15 EURO games in which they failed to score.
Line-ups
Serbia: Rajković; Veljković, Milenković, Pavlović; Živković (Birmančević 74), S Milinković-Savić, Gudelj (Ilić 46), Lukić (Jović 61), Kostić (Mladenović 43); Vlahović, Mitrović (Tadić 61)
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guéhi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold (Gallagher 69), Rice; Saka (Bowen 76), Bellingham (Mainoo 86), Foden; Kane