England edged to a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener to go top of Group C.
2024 European Championship
0-1
Match Report
Gareth Southgate's side impressed in the opening 45 minutes, with the brilliant Jude Bellingham heading them in front after just 13 minutes from Bukayo Saka's deflected cross.
They should have then doubled their lead when Kyle Walker burst into the box midway through that first half but sent his cross-shot wide of the far post and beyond the reach of Phil Foden and Harry Kane.
That failure to capitalise on their dominance led to a nervous end to the half and there was a momentum shift after the interval. Serbia stepped up, England lost their way.
Aleksandar Mitrovic saw a penalty appeal waved away when Kieran Trippier nudged him to the ground at the near post.
Subs Dusan Tadic and Luka Jovic then almost combined as Serbia pressed for a leveller, England dropped deeper and Southgate delayed any changes of his own.
When the England boss did eventually turn to his bench there was almost an instant impact from Jarrod Bowen. His cross was met by Harry Kane whose header was brilliantly pushed against the underside of the bar by Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
Serbia continued to build pressure, though, with Jordan Pickford forced to tip over Dusan Vlahovic's drive before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic lashed one wide from distance.
England were desperate for the final whistle and hanging on, but when it eventually came they could celebrate a victorious start to this Euros campaign.
The draw between Slovenia and Denmark earlier on Sunday means England are already well-placed to qualify for the knockouts - but they will need to play like they did in the first half rather than the second if they are to go deep in this tournament.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
13' Hey Jude! Bellingham opens the scoring for Three Lions! Serbia 0-1 England
18' Alexander-Arnold’s shot wide out
19' Mitrovic’s long shot inches wide!
39' Yellow Card! Gudelj booked
40' Kostic appears to be injured after sudden confront
59' Mitrovic goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
75' Yellow Card! Tadic booked
76' OFF THE POST! Kane nearly scores for England!
79' Trippier appears to be injured
81' SAVE! Pickford parries Vlahović's long shot
85' Bellingham out,Mainoo in
Line-ups
Serbia XI: Gudelj, Kostic, Mitrovic, P. Rajković, A. Živković, Veljkovic, Lukic, Milinkovic-Savic, Dušan Vlahović, Milenkovic, S. Pavlovic
Subs: Tadic, Srdjan Mijailovic, Filip Mladenovic, U. Spajić, Gacinovic, Babic, Jovic, Maksimovic, Vanja Milinković-Savić, Veljko Birmancevic, Ivan Ilić, Djordje Petrovic, Lazar Samardžić, Nemanja Stojic, Petar Ratkov
England XI: Walker, Trippier, Kane, Pickford, Stones, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Foden, Guehi, Saka, Jude Bellingham
Subs: Dunk, Shaw, Ivan Toney, Joe Gomez, Dean Henderson, Bowen, Ollie Watkins, Ngoyo, Ramsdale, Eberechi Eze, Conor Gallagher, Gordon, Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton