English heavyweights grapple with early stages of the European Championship due to cramp issues.
In the opening match of England's quest for their first title in half a century at the European Championship, Jude Bellingham, dubbed the "ball-beast," led the way as England edged past debutant Serbia 1-0. Playing on Schalke, England's captain, Champions League winner Harry Kane, and his teammates secured a victory that kickstarted the first English EURO party, albeit with a less explosive performance and lower alcohol content.
Bellingham, the star of the match, took the 1966 World Cup champions into the lead early on (13th minute). The 20-year-old from Real Madrid shone like a ten, even retrieving the ball from his own half, stealing the show from Kane.
Bayern Munich striker Kane made history in his 92nd national team appearance as he captained the Three Lions for the fifth major tournament. This set a record for England as well as marking the twelfth EURO game and the 23rd match at a World or European championship for Kane.
Before the game, Kane declared, "We deserved to be seen as favorites." Previously, England had come close but fell just short - they exited at the quarterfinals in the 2018 World Cup and the EURO 2021 penalty shootout. "We've made our country proud," the prolific goalscorer of FC Bayern reflected after the game, adding, "We're here to finally win."
England's strategy almost backfired as the underdog Serbia, who had never advanced past the group stage in major tournaments since their independence, mounted a strong challenge in the closing minutes. The English team, led by Gareth Southgate, opted for many experienced players of the past and granted Bellingham unbridled freedom. However, they appeared strangely passive in their defense, allowing Serbia to apply intense pressure on Jordan Pickford's goal in the late stages. Pickford made a crucial save in the 82nd minute to deny Dusan Vlahovic an equalizer.
Tensions flared between both sets of fans in Gelsenkirchen city center before the match. Police confirmed that the situation was under control and seven Serbians were detained. Videos on social media showed chairs being hurled and broken windows. A British man and a policeman suffered serious head injuries, according to The Guardian. More officers were on duty than at local derbies, and in the stadium, only beer with 2.5% alcohol was served.
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In the buildup to the European Football Championship 2024, both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are expected to lead England's squad, given their impressive performances in recent tournaments. Despite England's victory over Serbia in the European Championship 2024 qualifiers, critics are eager to see if they can overcome previous eliminations at major tournaments, including the 2018 World Cup and EURO 2021, and bring home the trophy for the first time in half a century.
