England's Euro 2024 campaign ignited with a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over a physical Serbian side, courtesy of a classic headed goal from captain Harry Kane.
The match in Gelsenkirchen was a tale of two halves, with Jude Bellingham dominating the early proceedings. The Real Madrid superstar was the architect of the breakthrough, soaring to meet Bukayo Saka's deflected cross and powering a header past Predrag Rajkovic in the Serbian goal.
Gareth Southgate's men looked imperious in the first half, controlling possession and creating the better chances. However, Serbia emerged from the break with renewed vigour, putting the English defence under sustained pressure for the first time.
The introduction of veteran striker Aleksandar Mitrović provided a focal point for the Serbian attack, forcing goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into a crucial save to protect the slender lead.
Despite the second-half onslaught, England's backline, marshalled by Marc Guéhi, held firm to secure a vital three points in Group C. The win places the Three Lions at the top of their group early in the tournament, though the performance highlighted areas for improvement.
The victory, while not always comfortable, provides a solid foundation for England's quest to win a major international trophy for the first time since 1966. The team will look to build on this result in their upcoming fixture against Denmark.
