Jude Bellingham’s 13th minute header sent England top of Group C at UEFA Euro 2024 with 1-0 win over Serbia.
Bellingham nodded in a 13th minute winner from Bukayo Saka’s cross as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions made a winning start to their campaign.
England now sit top of Group C ahead of Denmark who drew 1-1 against Slovenia after Christian Eriksen’s strike – exactly 1100 days after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 – was cancelled out by Erik Janza’s equaliser.
Southgate’s Three Lions will now face Denmark in their second group match on Thursday 20 June at 6pm CEST (5pm UK Time), whilst Serbia meet Slovenia on that same date at 3pm CEST (2pm UK Time).
Across in Group D, Wout Weghorst netted a late winner to secure a 2-1 comeback victory for the Netherlands against Poland, after Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Adam Buksa’s header.
Considered title favourites with the third-youngest squad at this tournament, England made a strong start against a defensive Serbia, which almost quickly paid dividends but Phil Foden fired a fifth minute shot wide from a knockdown header.
England continued to press and got their reward as Bellingham combined with Saka whose return cross was deflected for the 2o year-old to nod in to put the Euro 2020 runners-up ahead in the 13th minute.
Bellingham’s opener also made him only the second male player after Michael Owen to score at both a World Cup and European Championship before he turned 21 years old, of which he will reach that age on 29 June.
Serbia however boasted a dangerous forward in ex Newcastle and Fulham striker – Aleksandar Mitrovic who had scored 46 goals across the season for country and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, and the Serbian fired wide in their first attack in the 20th minute.
Strahinja Pavlovic however almost handed England the chance to double their lead a minute later after he fouled Saka, but Declan Rice flicked the subsequent free-kick wide to spare Serbia’s blushes.
Up front, Harry Kane and Foden were largely kept quiet with limited first-half involvement but England dug deep to protect their lead until half-time.
Serbia however finished the first half on top and continued their momentum into the second half but were denied a controversial 59th minute penalty, after Mitrovic was fouled as he met a cutback pass into the box from substitute – Filip Mladenovic.
Referee, Daniele Orsato and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) however ignored Mitrovic’s penalty appeals to the Serbian’s fury.
Serbia substitutes, Dusan Tadic and Luka Jovic combined in the 65th minute but Jovic tamely flicked Tadic’s pass forward for Jordan Pickford to save.
England almost punished Serbia’s sloppy end product in the 77th minute but Kane nodded Jarrod Bowen’s cross onto the left post.
Pickford came to England’s rescue again as he flicked Dusan Vlahovic’s thunderous 82nd minute strike behind his own goal.
England eventually saw out the game to take victory in Southgate’s 97th match as manager, during which three-cap Kobbie Mainoo made his competitive senior international debut as a 86th minute substitute in place of Bellingham.
Speaking to BBC post-match, Kane felt that Serbia gave England “a tough game,” but felt that the win was “important” for building early momentum, especially after they rode their luck at times in the second half.
“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.”
Teams
Serbia – Predrag Rajkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Milos Veljkovic, Filip Kostic (Mladenovic 43′), Nemanja Gudelj (Ilic 46′), Sasa Lukic (Jovic 61′), Andrija Zivkovic (Birmancevic 74′), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Dusan Vlahovic, Aleksandar Mitrovic (Tadic 61′)
Substitutes: Srdan Babic, Veljko Birmancevic, Mijat Gacinovic, Ivan Ilic, Luka Jovic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Srdan Mijailovic, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Filip Mladenovic, Dorde Petrovic, Petar Ratkov, Lazar Samardzic, Uros Spajic, Nemanja Stojic, Dusan Tadic
England – Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Gallagher 69′), Bukayo Saka (Bowen 76′), Jude Bellingham (Mainoo 86′), Phil Foden, Harry Kane
Substitutes: Luke Shaw, Aaron Ramsdale, Ezri Konsa, Lewis Dunk, Conor Gallagher, Ivan Toney, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Joe Gomez, Dean Henderson, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo
Referee – Daniele Orsato (Italy)