England Dominate Serbia in Euro 2024 Opener; Eze Shines Off Bench
England began their Euro 2024 campaign with a commanding 1-0 victory over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, fueled by a dominant second-half performance and a stunning goal from substitute Eberechi Eze. The win sets a positive tone for England’s Group C ambitions, while Serbia faces an uphill battle after a disappointing start.
Ezri Konsa’s early bravery in a physical contest established the tone for England, while Elliot Anderson impressed despite being substituted. Later, tactical changes proved decisive as England capitalized on Serbia’s desperation, ultimately securing a crucial three points. Manager Gareth Southgate will be pleased with the team’s resilience and the impact of his substitutes as they look ahead to their next fixture against Denmark.
###Starting XI
Ezri Konsa – 8
A brave performance,winning almost every aerial duel and looking pleasant on the ball.
Kieran Trippier – 7
Solid defensively and offered a threat going forward.
Declan Rice – 7
Shielded the defense well and broke up play effectively.substituted in the 82nd minute.
Harry Kane – 6
Led the line as always but struggled to make a significant impact. Substituted in the 69th minute.
Bukayo saka – 8
Opened the scoring with a composed finish after a well-worked move. A constant threat to the Serbia defence.
Elliot Anderson – 7
Playing off the left at wembley, he reminded everyone why he’s still one of England’s most unpredictable weapons although the finishing touch didn’t quite follow the fireworks. Twice he cut in from 20 yards but the strike was easily read by Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
###Subs
Phil Foden (On for Kane) – 7
A little bit sloppy early on as he didn’t look overly comfortable playing in the false nine position. However, when the game opened up with serbia throwing men forward, Foden relished driving into space and grabbed an assist for the second goal.
Jude Bellingham (On for Rogers) – 7
Played like a man with a point to prove off the bench, driving past Serbia midfielders with his usual mix of grace and power. Tuchel’s handling of him has been a little unconventional but it may just work in the long-term.
Eberechi Eze (On for Rashford) – 8
Flourished in the space offered to him in the closing stages against a desperate serbia team. Somehow was denied when his close-range finish bounced back off the crossbar but he wouldn’t be denied, swatting home a fantastic finish to double the lead.
Jordan Henderson (On for Rice) – 7
Steady if unspectacular. Kept things simple.
Adam Wharton (On for Anderson) – N/A
Onyl on for five minutes – hopefully we get to see more of him as the World Cup draws into view.
