England v Serbia RECAP: Jude Bellingham scores winner as star makes Euro 2024 pundit 'sad'

That's all from our live blog of England vs Serbia.

Thanks for sticking with us during England's opener. We'll be back when England take on Denmark on Thursday evening.

In the meantime, you can follow our latest Euro 2024 blog right here...

Gary Lineker has shared his thoughts on Harry Kane's subdued performance against Serbia last night.

At half-time, Lineker said "He is playing his part, he's not dropping deep like we've seen from him in the past, he's keeping Serbia deep to make that space for the creative players behind him. He won't care about general touches, just those he can make to put the ball in the back of the net."

Gareth Southgate has spoken out following England's nervy win against Serbia.

He said: "Serbia are a strong team. We had to suffer a bit, which I think is really good for us to come through and to defend our box in the way we did under pressure is important for the group. That's the reality of tournaments.

"We had good chances to extend the lead and kill the game, which we didn't manage to take. I was really pleased with a lot of the play, especially the first half. I thought we used the ball really well. Second half we didn't keep it quite as well as we need to but to get the win and the start that we have is really important."

That's all we've got time for tonight.

It was an important victory for England as they kicked off Euro 2024 Group C with three points.

A victory over Denmark on Friday will see the Three Lions into the knockout phase.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with more reaction to the victory.

Erik ten Hag seemed to take a dig at Gareth Southgate after England’s win over Serbia.

The Manchester United boss was working as a pundit for Dutch television during the Euro 2024 Group C clash.

Ten Hag appeared to criticise Southgate’s tactics as taking a ‘gamble’ after leading 1-0.

He said: "It's the vision of the manager [Southgate]. England will take a 1-0 lead, then he [Southgate] decides to start gambling with making his team compact and relying on moments for the remaining minutes of the game."

Phil Foden has made Micah Richards ‘sad’.

Foden came in and out of the game without making a major impact.

Richards is ‘sad’ that England are unable to get the best out of the Manchester City playmaker.

"It makes me sad that a player of his quality is just in and out of the game," he told the BBC of Foden.

"It's just disappointing we're not able to get the best out of him."

Naturally, Jude Bellingham won the Man of the Match award.

It was the Real Madrid star’s header that secured England’s win.

He told the BBC afterwards: "Jude Bellingham is made up of amazing people. It's not just me. It's because I have such a great support network."

Harry Kane was pleased England navigated a ‘tough’ Serbia team at Euro 2024.

The Three Lions captain told the BBC: "We knew it was going to be a tough game, Serbia pose a lot of threats and have some good players.

“They will make it a battle for you and I think we dealt with it really well. There was a spell in the second half where we got camped in our box and we found it hard to get out but it was an important win tonight.

"It's a tough game. They are a tough team and have good players. We stood up to it well and it is good to get the three points and [for us] to progress. It's good that we got the win today."

We'll have all the best reaction to England's victory over Serbia at Euro 2024.

Stay tuned!

England have, just about, secured a 1-0 win over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.

Jude Bellingham scored the game's only goal.

The lack of comfort won't bother Gareth Southgate and his players.

It's an important three points to kick off Group C.

Jude Bellingham's night is over on 85 minutes.

He's replaced by Kobbie Mainoo, who makes his competitive England debut.

Jordan Pickford has kept England ahead with a fantastic save to deny a curling Dusan Vlahovic shot.

From the resulting corner, Harry Kane blocks a goal-bound effort right in front of Pickford.

The England captain punches the air in celebration.

Kieran Trippier is off the pitch receiving treatment.

Remember, England have gone into Euro 2024 without a recognised fit left-back.

Luke Shaw is returning from a hamstring problem and is likely to be only fit to start against Denmark next week.

Trippier is back on the pitch and all eyes will be on how he fares for the final 10 minutes.

Oh so close to a second England goal!

Jarrod Bowen's first involvement sees him stand up a cross to the back post.

Harry Kane meets the ball with a thumping header but his effort is wonderfully parried onto the crossbar by Predrag Rajkovic.

Bukayo Saka's race is run.

West Ham's Jarrod Bowen replaces him on the right of England's attack.

Saka's cross set up Jude Bellingham's goal but he's endured a quiet second half.

It is indeed Chelsea's Conor Gallagher who comes on, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It was a largely positive first tournament start in midfield for the Liverpool player.

Gallagher will want to help England gain some control in the second half.

Twenty minutes remaining...

England have not managed to have a sustained period of possession in the second half.

There's a sense that Gareth Southgate might need to make a couple of changes.

Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher have been warming most the most vigorously of the England substitutes.

Approaching the hour and England are just about settling back into the game.

They soaked up some early second-half pressure.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has just forced Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic into a save from long range.

We're back underway in Gelsenkirchen.

England lead thanks to that early Jude Bellingham goal.

Serbia improved in the last 10 minutes of the second half and will look to use that momentum now.

England survived a late storm from Serbia in the final five minutes of the first half.

Gareth Southgate's side lead through Jude Bellingham's early goal.

This has been near-perfect from England so far but if there's a slight criticism then it's Harry Kane's involvement.

The Three Lions captain has struggled to get into the game, barely touching the ball.

It's been a struggle for Kane up against three powerful Serbian centre-backs.

It's been a hugely positive first half an hour from England.

Jude Bellingham put the Three Lions ahead with a close-range header.

One minor hiccup in midfield saw Trent Alexander-Arnold's loose touch lead to a half-chance for Aleksandar Mitrovic, but he fired wide.

England in control.

It's the perfect start for England!

Jude Bellingham connects with Bukayo Saka's cross to head England in front.

England have naturally dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes.

Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham have both looked bright.

We're underway in Gelsekirchen.

Stick with us for full coverage of England's opening Euro 2024 clash with Serbia.

It's a belting rendition of God Save The King inside the Veltins Arena.

However, both anthems have been very loudly booed inside the stadium.

The game will be underway in a few moments' time.

England begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia in just 15 minutes.

Let us know in the comments what you're expecting from the Three Lions.

Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic has appeared on the screen at the Veltins Arena.

Djokovic sent a good luck message to the Serbian football team.

There was unrest in Gelsenkirchen prior to England's Euro 2024 match against Serbia.

German police say that seven Serbian citizens were arrested.

There are conflicting reports over whether England fans were involved. Some claim that it was instead Albania supporters.

It's a strong, very recognisable Serbia team trying to cause an upset against England tonight.

Serbia XI: Rajkovic, Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic, Zivkovic, S.Milinkovic-Savic, Lukic, Gudelj, Kostic, Mitrovic, Vlahovic.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is known to fans on these shores for his spells with Newcastle and Fulham.

Dusan Vlahovic has previously been linked with Arsenal.

England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane.

Gareth Southgate is able to name the rest of his 26-man squad on the bench, in a change from Euro 2020.

Four years ago, bosses were forced to exclude three players from the matchday squad.

England will meet Serbia at the Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen.

The stadium is home to German side Schalke.

England have bad memories of the venue. It hosted their 2006 World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

Wayne Rooney was infamously sent off in the game.

England vs Serbia will kick off at 8pm in Gelsenkirchen.

Team news is due in 10 minutes, at around 7pm.

We're not expecting any major surprises from Gareth Southgate.

The travel situation in Germany has caused a few issues for fans and journalists already this weekend.

Trains and buses have been criticised by tournament-goers.

One journalist has urged fans who are still in Gelsenkirchen to travel to the stadium by foot, rather than attempt to catch public transport.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to start in midfield for England tonight.

Marc Guehi could also get the nod alongside John Stones, who has recovered from a bout of illness.

Predicted England team: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of England's Euro 2024 clash with Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.

We'll have all the team news, build-up and action here in this live blog.

So stay tuned!