Serbia vs. England, Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal for England.

Serbia vs. England match highlights: Jude Bellingham’s header in the first half gave England an unimpressive 1-0 victory over Serbia in Sunday’s second match of Group C.

England’s early dominance in the first ten minutes of the match saw Serbia struggling to touch the ball and enter the game, as the English team swiftly transferred it between them.

In the penultimate friendly before Euro 2024 kicked off, England also dominated possession against Iceland, yet despite a lackluster performance, the visitor secured a historic victory at Wembley.

However, against Serbia, Gareth Southgate’s team was playing with evident energy early on, winning tackles and moving the ball about with purpose.

Shortly after, Bellingham, with a perfectly timed late run, managed to outmanoeuvre his defender and head Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross beyond Predrag Rajković in the Serbian goal. This strategic move gave England a well-deserved lead.

Bellingham’s clear motivation was evident in his actions. After throwing the ball out for a throw-in, the Real Madrid midfielder raised his arms in the air to cheer on the England supporters. In a moment of frustration, he then shoved the Serbian winger in the chest as he left, displaying the emotional intensity of the game.

Aleksandar Mitrović’s attempt to score an own goal went just wide of the post after Trent Alexander-Arnold made a mistake, reminding England if it needed one about how rapidly the game can change.

Aside from that nerve-racking moment, England’s first half was incredibly confident. When he had a chance to make it 2-0, Kyle Walker chose to cross the ball rather than shoot, even though it could have been a superior move.

That being said, England’s comfort level decreased significantly in the second half. As Serbia gained momentum and kept England confined to its penalty area for extended periods, clear-cut opportunities were challenging due to their poor attacking performance.

The finest chance of the second half went to Harry Kane, but Rajković deflected his header against the crossbar. Kane celebrated his save as if he had won Euro 2024.

Serbia came closest to equalizing when England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to be alert to tip Dušan Vlahović’s fierce long-range shot over the bar in the closing minutes.

supporters of Serbia vs. England

In tournament football, the Three Lions are rarely flashy, but with their performance in the second half, Southgate will have a lot on his mind before his team plays Denmark on Thursday.

Before the game, security issues had been raised. Some England supporters in Düsseldorf on Saturday were chanting “10 German bombers,” a reference to World War II. Journalist Matt Lawton shared a video of one fan brandishing an inflatable jet outside a bar.

As the supporters from Serbia and England arrived at the stadium on Sunday, they also engaged in altercations.

According to Gelsenkirchen police, about 4,000 Serbian supporters marched” largely peacefully” toward the Veltins Arena. Still, they had to be stopped “several times along the way because pyrotechnics were set off.”

According to the statement, “The police were notified of a confrontation between Serbian and English football fans in the Arminstrasse area at approximately 3:45 p.m.”

Police officers broke up the two fan camps using riot shields. They lodged a criminal complaint for severe bodily harm and detained seven Serbian supporters.

“On the route to the arena, there were no more mishaps. The stadium exudes a vibrant atmosphere. The cops are present and monitoring the situation.

England supporters at the Arena Auf Schalke during Sunday’s match were more upbeat. They primarily celebrated the 20-year-old’s goal by bursting into a rendition of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Additionally, after the final whistle was blown, the stadium was filled with the sounds of “Sweet Caroline,” another fan anthem.

Credit: CNN