England started their Euro 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, thanks to a brilliant performance from Jude Bellingham. Here’s how both sets of players rated:
Serbia
Embed from Getty ImagesPredrag Rajković – 6
Made a stunning save to deny Kane. Could do little about Bellingham’s goal.
Miloš Veljković – 6
Composed in possession but struggled defensively at times.
Nikola Milenković – 4
Had a tough time against England’s attack. Failed to mark Bellingham for the goal.
Strahinja Pavlović – 7
Strong defensively and improved as the game went on. Kept Saka quieter in the second half.
Andrija Živković – 4
Offered little going forward and struggled defensively.
Filip Kostić – 4
Ineffective before being withdrawn due to injury. Frustrated after Bellingham’s early impact.
Saša Lukić – 5
Worked hard but lost Bellingham for the goal. Couldn’t control the midfield.
Nemanja Gudelj – 6
Accurate with his passing but overrun at times. Booked for fouling Bellingham repeatedly.
Sergej Milinković-Savić – 5
Had a few good moments but didn’t influence the game enough.
Aleksandar Mitrović – 7
Serbia’s biggest threat. Worked tirelessly and created a few chances.
Dušan Vlahović – 5
Largely anonymous until a late chance forced a good save from Pickford.
Substitutes:
Filip Mladenović – 6
Added energy down the left but couldn’t create much.
Ivan Ilić – 6
Solid defensively and made a crucial tackle to deny Bellingham.
Dušan Tadić – 6
Provided a spark off the bench but couldn’t change the game.
Luka Jović – 5
Had a chance to equalise but didn’t take it. Worked hard but to little effect.
Veljko Birmančević – N/A
Came on too late to influence the game.
England
Embed from Getty ImagesJordan Pickford – 6
Made a crucial save from Dušan Vlahović late in the game. Mostly untroubled, but stayed alert when needed.
Kyle Walker – 7
Solid defensively and contributed to the attack. His overlap led to the cross that set up Bellingham’s goal.
John Stones – 6
Calm and composed at the back. Dealt well with Serbia’s limited attacking threats.
Marc Guéhi – 8
Outstanding on his major tournament debut. Strong defensively and read the game well.
Kieran Trippier – 6
Did his job at left-back but was less effective going forward. Steady performance overall.
Declan Rice – 7
Anchored the midfield effectively. Broke up play and provided a solid shield for the defence.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6
Had some bright moments in midfield but didn’t dominate. Showed promise in his new role.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Created the goal with a deflected cross and was a constant threat down the right. Faded slightly in the second half.
Jude Bellingham – 9
Man of the match. Scored the winning goal and was influential all over the pitch. His energy and quality were unmatched.
Phil Foden – 5
Struggled to make an impact and was often on the fringes of the game. Needs to find a way to get more involved.
Harry Kane – 6
Worked hard and linked play well. Almost scored with a header that was brilliantly saved.
Substitutes:
Conor Gallagher – 6
Added energy to the midfield but didn’t change the game significantly.
Jarrod Bowen – 6
Nearly provided an assist with his first touch. Offered fresh legs late on.
Kobbie Mainoo – N/A
Follow reaction from the England goalscorer and Serbian manager to the game, and comprehensive coverage of EURO2024, here on FromTheSpot.
