“Euro 2024”.. England defeats Serbia

England began its quest to make up for what it lost in the summer of 2021, when it lost the “Euro” final on its soil to Italy on penalties, with a very difficult victory over Serbia, 1-0, today, Sunday, in the third group competitions of the European Cup Germany 2024, thanks to the Spanish star of Real Madrid. Jude Bellingham scored the only goal.

In Gelsenkirchen, in the first official confrontation between the two teams in a match classified as high security risks due to the history of the two republics, England, which is still searching for its first major title since being crowned champion of the 1966 World Cup on home soil, achieved what was required of it without living up to the level of its candidacy to lift the cup. Serbia was defeated in its first match in the tournament as an independent country, first from Yugoslavia and then from Montenegro (it last participated as Serbia and Montenegro in 2000).

By scoring the only goal, in the 13th minute of a match during which his country suffered, especially in the second half, Bellingham celebrated in the best way his historic achievement as the first European player to play in three major tournaments before celebrating his twenty-first birthday (20 years and 353 days), after he had previously participated in the “Euro.” 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

After coach Gareth Southgate’s men were satisfied with a victory for Yatim in their last five preparation matches for the finals, including a loss to Iceland on their home soil 0-1 and a draw with humble North Macedonia 1-1, the moment of truth came on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen, and the “Three Lions” succeeded in passing the exam, until… Although with difficulty, in a group that saw Denmark draw with Slovenia 1-1, also today, Sunday, in Stuttgart.