June 17, (THEWILL)- Jude Bellingham’s first-half header propelled England to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen. The Real Madrid midfielder nodded home in the 13th minute, but Gareth Southgate’s side had to withstand heavy Serbian pressure after the break to start their campaign with three points.
Bellingham’s goal capped an energetic start by the Three Lions, who could have doubled their advantage before the interval. Harry Kane went close with a header tipped onto the crossbar brilliantly by Predrag Rajkovic, while Jordan Pickford produced a fine save to deny Dusan Vlahovic at the other end.
Though dominant in possession after half-time, Serbia struggled to truly test Pickford as England’s defence held firm. The introduction of Dusan Tadic increased the urgency, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium until Vlahovic forced Pickford into another smart stop late on.
In the end, Bellingham’s clinical finish proved enough for England to make a winning start. However, Southgate will demand improvement going forward as superior opposition likely awaits in a hotly-contested group.
England have now won four successive opening matches at major tournaments under Southgate. Meanwhile, their run of five consecutive clean sheets in European Championship group stages is a new record.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
