One of the big favorites to win the European Football Championship, England, started their participation in the continental forum in Germany with a victory. At the “Veltins Arena” in Gelsenkirchen, Gareth Southgate’s team narrowly beat Serbia 1-0. Despite being engaged with serious superlatives, the Crown’s subjects did not play their perfect match. They were rescued from a delicate position by Jude Bellingham, who scored in the middle of the first half.
The Serbs started timidly and only reminded of their class after the break, when things got much more tense for Pickford. Once, even referee Orsato missed a potential penalty opportunity in favor of our western neighbors.
Although they did not shine, the English could have squeezed out a victory with a bigger score if Harry Kane had not been denied after a great reaction from Rajkovic and a subsequent ricochet off the crossbar.
Typically Balkan-style, the Serbs started with their “heads up” after the first whistle of Daniele Orsato. The “eagles'” desire was serious, and Mitrovic decided to chase John Stones into a mistake. Initially, the Manchester City star made a mistake in his actions, but then he took revenge on the Al Hilal goalscorer.
England quickly took control of possession, but apart from a few crosses, nothing dangerous happened in front of the goal of the Serbs, who took a wait-and-see approach.
Gareth Southgate’s players did not have to wait long to find themselves in the lead. Bukayo Saka received a pass down the flank, after which he finished the action with a cross. The ball deflected slightly off Strahinja Pavlovic’s leg, giving it more height than necessary. This did not allow Harry Kane to play, but it turned out to be a golden chance for the lurking Jude Bellingham, who, rushing from a second position, left no chance for Rajkovic.
The Serbs were close to giving a fitting response to the English challenge. Aleksandar Mitrovic got free of his marker, but directed his shot past the right post. To a large extent, the entire attack of our western neighbors was the result of a serious English mistake in bringing the ball out.
Gareth Southgate’s team was clearly different from the Serbs when they raised the tempo of their offensive actions. In a new high-speed combination, Kyle Walker came dangerously close to the goal of our western neighbors. His pass, parallel to the goal line, however, did not find a single teammate.
Bukayo Saka’s sharp breaks were endless, and with the Arsenal star he confirmed his choice to be a starter in the Islanders’ squad instead of the Chelsea sensation – Cole Palmer. But again in the 36th minute there was no one to materialize his potential goal assist.
Dark clouds loomed over Pixie Stojkovic’s head in the 42nd minute, when one of his key players – Filip Kostic – gave a clear sign that he could not continue in the match and had to be substituted. Thus, the only typical full-back in the Balkans’ squad had to take to the field without time – Filip Mladenovic.
The Serbs wanted to have the last word in the first half and they got it. Zivkovic reached a combination with a teammate that ended with a cross to the far post. There, John Stones was not at all convincing with his clearance, and to his luck, everything ended with just a corner kick.
Dusan Vlahovic stopped being a figurehead in the clash and reminded of himself in the 52nd minute. Then the Juventus striker advanced powerfully through the English defense and looked for a pass to Mitrovic, who was intercepted by Trippier at the decisive moment.
An interesting situation developed in Gelsenkirchen in the 58th minute. Then the clumsy English defense allowed an excellent inclusion of the substitute Mladenovic. His pass reached Mitrovic, who fell in the penalty area, and his claims for a penalty seemed legitimate. In the whole situation, Trippier lightly tapped him on the right leg to make the heavyweight striker lose his balance. However, there was no reaction from Daniele Orsato.
60 seconds after Gareth Southgate brought West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen into play, No. 20 could have delighted him with a great play in the 77th minute. The speedster took advantage of Mladenovic’s poor positioning and crossed to the far post for Kane. The England captain immediately headed, but Rajkovic shone with a fantastic save, and then the crossbar came to his aid.
Dusan Vlahovic put Pickford to the test in the 82nd. The English defense had a hard time allowing him into their penalty area and because of that fact, the Partizan youngster decided to shoot from outside it. The Three Lions goalkeeper was careful and knocked it out for a corner.
Until the end, the English kept control of events and eventually congratulated themselves with the debut three points.
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