England secured a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening match of Group C, which took place early on June 17. The lone goal came from Jude Bellingham, the young star currently playing for Real Madrid.
England faced some initial difficulties as Serbia adopted a defensive strategy from the outset. However, moments of brilliance from their star players led to the opening goal in the 13th minute. Kyle Walker delivered a penetrating pass down the flank to Bukayo Saka, who crossed the ball into the box. Jude Bellingham made a powerful header to score. England’s predominant attacking approach was down the right wing, where the duo of Saka and Walker posed a constant threat. In the first half, they combined for two dangerous crosses, though no teammate was able to convert them as Bellingham did.
Serbia held 47% of possession and were not entirely outplayed, but they failed to create any notable chances as Declan Rice excelled in defensive support, with central defenders John Stones and Marc Guehi forming a solid partnership.
Serbia’s best chance came from striker Mitrovic after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mishandled ball. In the second half, Serbia pushed up their formation in search of an equalizer. After 15 minutes of ineffective play, they introduced two attacking stars, Luka Jovic and Dusan Tadic, to press higher up the field. Manager Gareth Southgate was not passive either.
Facing increased opponent pressure, he substituted Alexander-Arnold with Conor Gallagher, a midfielder known for his battling qualities. Shortly after, Jarrod Bowen replaced Saka to inject fresh energy into England’s attack. Bowen’s first involvement saw him break through and deliver a precise cross for Harry Kane, but unfortunately, Kane’s header struck the crossbar.
As the match entered its final minutes, Serbia intensified their pressure. However, their efforts only amounted to a dangerous long-range shot by Vlaholic. England maintained their one-goal advantage until the end of the match. Ultimately, the Three Lions secured a 1-0 victory to top Group C, while Serbia temporarily sits at the bottom of the table.