4 things we learned from England’s difficult victory over Serbia

England got the job done in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday night as they started their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over a physical Serbia side.

Expectations for this English team refused to be tempered despite suffering a pre-tournament 1-0 defeat to Iceland, and the opening 30 minutes at the Veltins-Arena depicted a side capable of enjoying another deep run in Germany this summer.

However, the remaining hour wasn’t for the purists. Stodgy, underwhelming performances have been ingrained in the English psyche, only it seems that Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions continue to prevail in spite of such issues.

England will have to improve and drift away from their seemingly habitual retreating second-half act if they’re to compete and topple the continent’s best.

Here are four things we learned from Sunday’s 1-0 win over Serbia.

England’s wealth of attacking talent has done the rounds for months leading into Euro 2024. Southgate has Europe’s leading goalscorer, and both the Premier League and La Liga’s best player on his hands.

However, there was only one man who stole the show in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday. While Phil Foden struggled for rhythm floating off the left and Harry Kane tussled with an imposing Serbia backline all night, Jude Bellingham inspired England’s victory.

An early bump into Filip Kostic while he gee’d up the English fans was a signal of intent from the Real Madrid superstar. He was not going to be bullied. Serbia’s treatment of Bellingham was harsh, but England’s number ten dominated the opening 45 minutes. His box-crashing brilliance, so often on display last season, led to the game’s only goal, and Bellingham was intent on impacting the game in any way he could.

Voted Man of the Match by UEFA despite a quieter second half, it seems as if Bellingham may well be taking this England team by the scruff of the neck.

Harry Maguire is a huge loss for this England side, but the Three Lions are certainly well-stocked in reserve.

Marc Guehi made his tournament bow on Sunday alongside John Stones, and the Crystal Palace man performed as if none of this was new to him.

Surprise at Guehi’s assuredness was pretty remarkable given his form for Crystal Palace over the past couple of years. Eagles supporters weren’t enjoying anything new on Sunday as Guehi produced a measured performance laden with timely, aggressive interceptions…