Narrow opening win
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The England national team has started the European Football Championship in Germany with a narrow victory. Gareth Southgate's team defeated Serbia 1:0 (1:0) in the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday evening to top Group C after round one.
The parallel match between Slovenia and Denmark had previously ended in a 1-1 draw. Jude Bellingham secured three points for the "Three Lions" with his goal (13th).
The English co-favorites for the European Championships got off to a good start, driven by the lively Bukayo Saka, and immediately took command against a Serbian defense that mostly consisted of nine deep-defending players. This defensive recipe did not help for a quarter of an hour, as Southgate's side took the lead with their first consistent attack. Saka was played in on the right and his cross, which was deflected by Salzburg defender Strahinja Pavlovic, was headed home by Real Madrid star Bellingham to make it 1:0 (13').
Aleksandar Mitrovic came close to Jordan Pickford's goal a little later, but the captain of the European Championship debutants shot narrowly wide of the target from 15 meters (20'). At the other end, Kyle Walker missed the 2:0 on the counter-attack, his mixture of pass and shot in the best position in front of keeper Predrag Rajkovic went past friend and foe (25').
Coach Dragan Stojkovic's Serbian side were now more courageous, but suffered another setback. Juventus player Filip Kostic was injured and had to leave the pitch (43'); he was replaced by Filip Mladenovic.
Serbia came out of the break with momentum and now set the tone, but it was usually over in the penalty area of the 2021 European runners-up. Shots from the underdogs were few and far between. After just over an hour, things got dicey in front of Pickford when Mladenovic sought out Mitrovic. The striker was brought down and appealed for a penalty. Referee Daniele Orsato saw things differently and the VAR confirmed his decision (59').
Here are the best pictures of the game:
It was the last action for Mitrovic, he was replaced by Dusan Tadic. Stojkovic also brought on Milan striker Luka Jovic, with the Serbs now putting everything on the offensive. England remained organized and almost scored on the counter-attack. Jarrod Bowen, who came on as a substitute for Saka, crossed to Harry Kane, who had hardly been involved in the game until then. The captain's header was deflected onto the crossbar by Rajkovic (77'). Incidentally, Kane played his 23rd game at a European Championship and World Cup and is now his nation's sole record player.
In the closing stages, Dusan Vlahovic tested goalkeeper Pickford from distance (82'), but Pickford held on. Kane cleared Veljko Birmancevic's shot with his head at the back of the net (83'). With that, the Serbs had shot their shot. Their European Championship tournament continues on Thursday with a clash against Slovenia (15:00). Immediately afterwards, England will take on Denmark (18:00).
Serbia - England 0:1 (0:1)
Gelsenkirchen, Arena AufSchalke, SR Orsato/ITA.
Goal: 0:1 (13.) Bellingham
Serbia: Rajkovic - Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic - Zivkovic (74. Birmancevic), S. Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj (46. Ilic), Lukic (61. Jovic), Kostic (43. Mladenovic) - Mitrovic (61. Tadic), Vlahovic
England: Pickford - Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier - Alexander-Arnold (69. Gallagher), Rice - Saka (76. Bowen), Bellingham (86. Mainoo), Foden - Kane
Yellow cards: Gudelj, Tadic, Stojkovic (coach) and none respectively
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