The first round of Euro 2024 Group C matches were played at the Feltins Arena in the early hours of June 17, Beijing time.
England
thanks to
Bellingham (name)
's header for a 1-0 win over
Serbia
team, ushering in the opening of this year's Eurocup and temporarily leading the group stage standings.
The match saw England captain Kane lead the starting lineup for his 65th captaincy, tying a team record, and it was also his 23rd international appearance, setting a new team record. Arnold made a cameo appearance in the midfield, starting alongside stars such as Bellingham and Saka to construct a strong attack for England.
The key moment came in the 13th minute, when Saka's sublime cross was headed home by Bellingham to give England the lead. The goal was not only Bellingham's fourth career A-League goal, but also made him the third youngest English player to score a goal in UEFA Europa League history. In addition, the header also helped England overtake Germany to become number one in the number of headers scored in UEFA Euro history.
In the following game, despite Serbia's efforts to counterattack, England's defense was solid and failed to allow the opponent to equalize the score. In the second half, both teams made several substitutions, but the situation on the field did not change fundamentally. England relied on their tight defense and efficient offense to keep the 1-0 score until the final whistle.
After this match, England leads Group C with 3 points, setting up a good foundation for the next matches. Serbia, on the other hand, will need to play catch-up in the coming matches in order to get out of the group.
This game was not only a competition of athletics, but also a competition of spirit. England showed their team spirit and indomitable fighting spirit, while Serbia also showed their tenacity and fighting spirit. As the European Cup progresses, we have reason to expect more exciting matches and stories.
