Euro 2024: England make unwanted history in win over Serbia

England kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Serbia, marking a historic moment in the tournament. Jude Bellingham’s early goal at the 13-minute mark was enough to secure the Three Lions’ win at the Veltins Arena, propelling them to the top of Group C.

The match, characterized by its defensive rigor rather than offensive fireworks, saw England become the first team to keep a clean sheet in a tournament that has been noted for its high-scoring games. The clash against Serbia produced a combined total of just 11 shots, the lowest in a European Championship match since records began in 1980, according to ITV.

England managed five shots, three of which were on target, including Bellingham’s decisive strike. Serbia registered six shots, but Jordan Pickford was called into action only once, making a crucial save to deny Dusan Vlahovic.

Despite a dominant first half, England faced a resurgent and physical Serbian side after the break. The match turned into a gritty battle, testing England’s defensive resolve. Manager Gareth Southgate praised his team’s resilience under pressure.

“They are a strong team. We had to suffer a bit which I think is really good for us,” Southgate commented post-match. “I think to defend the box the way we did was really good for us. I was really pleased with a lot of the play. Second half we didn’t keep it as well as I would have liked but to get the win is very important.”

This victory places England at the top of Group C, following a 1-1 draw between Denmark and Slovenia in their opening fixture for Euro 2o24.