Gareth Southgate’s men got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start with a narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia. Here’s a look at how each England player performed:
Goalkeeper
- Jordan Pickford (7/10): Made a key save late from Vlahovic and his long kicking helped bypass Serbia’s midfield.
Defense:
- Kyle Walker (8/10): Caused problems with his pace, had the best chance for England, and provided the assist for the goal.
- John Stones (7/10): Strong defensively and kept Mitrovic quiet before he was substituted.
- Marc Guehi (8/10): Impressed on his major tournament debut with excellent positioning, passing, and a crucial block.
- Kieran Trippier (7/10): Played well defensively despite being on his unfamiliar left flank.
Midfield
- Declan Rice (8/10): Mature performance, controlled the midfield, and kept the ball moving.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10): Risky at times, but his creativity and long-range passing were valuable.
- Bukayo Saka (8/10): Man of the match contender, set up the goal and caused Serbia problems throughout the first half.
Attack
- Jude Bellingham (9/10): Energetic everywhere on the pitch, scored the winning goal, and coped well with physical play.
- Phil Foden (6/10): Frustrated by a Serbian foul early on and couldn’t find his usual attacking rhythm.
- Harry Kane (6/10): Unlucky not to score with a header but otherwise quiet, especially in the first half.
Substitutes
- Conor Gallagher (6/10): Added defensive solidity after coming on.
- Jarrod Bowen (N/A): Lively cameo after Saka’s tireless work.
- Kobbie Mainoo (N/A): Brief appearance late on.
England will look to build on this win as they face Denmark next in Group C.
