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Key events
Oh my god, Erik ten Haag has been stepped on by his bosses at Beefa. There can’t be many people who would welcome that.
“Trent is in the team to create a goal out of thin air,says Stephen Burkery. “Goals make championships. He played a number of great innings. If you prioritize formation over creativity, I feel sorry for you…”
England have no shortage of creative players. However, they struggle for control in midfield and he is never going to help that.
Bellingham says Serbia were strong, tough and healthy – “big group of guys”. The staff have done well with the preparations, he says, they are positive in the camp, “now on to the next one”.
He’s used to hitting the penalty box, he says, and for him personally it’s a great start to boosting his confidence – yes, he looks a bit low in that regard.
Otherwise, he says he’s better at handling the rough stuff, avoiding noise. Afterwards, when asked how “Jude Bellingham” was, he said, “I’m fine. It could have been worse. Jude Bellingham is made up of amazing people.
I’d like to leave it at that, but he explains that he has a great network of family, friends and teammates. “I’m so happy and football is the easy part.”
elsewhere Rory McIlroy came out on top again.
Harry Kane says tonight was all about winning. Serbia were a threat, they were very physical with long balls and second ball, they forced England back and for a while they could not get out. He believes Serbia went man-to-man in the second half which made the difference.
For Bellingham, he rhapsodized about his confidence and contribution, then said he thinks his own role will change depending on the game. Today he stayed a bit higher as they defended man to man and wanted to push them deep so Foden and Bellingham could get into the pockets. Then, in the second half, it was his job to hold on and win free kicks.
“I don’t know why you’re singling out Trent,” says Robert Lavin. “The team in general and the midfield in particular looked significantly worse after he came off. We barely got the ball out of our half – it was like Phil Neville came in!”
Yes, I disagree with that – although I am often wrong. thought England he looked less vulnerable once he came out, but the reason I single him out is because he’s trying to learn a position in a tournament, and I don’t think that makes sense – in general or specifically given the type of player he is. He just doesn’t offer enough off the ball, positionally or on it, in terms of keeping things going.
It is worth noting that UEFA seems to have caved in to the added time we saw at the World Cup. In today’s first game we had two goals in the first half and one minute added on; today, although there weren’t many outages, we got two and four.
FINAL: Serbia 0-1 England
It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. England top Group C with three points, Serbia bottom with none, with Denmark and Slovenia between them with one.
90+4 min It’s good for Pickford to take a while before throwing the ball at the other end, and I think this will be it.
90+3 min again, Serbia building, kicking a ball into the box. But Milinkovic-Savic and Pavlovic jump together, with no one beside them, and Kane wins a free-kick, returning to Milinkovic, then wins a header and takes the spot.
90+3 min Tadic extends to Birmančević, but England push them back and when Mladenovic crosses, Bowen, sprinting to close, blocks in touch.
90+2 min Gallagher wins Illic’s free-kick – his second in quick succession – and although they played poorly, England they did a pretty good job of disappearing in the last 15 minutes.
90 min We will have four extra minutes.
90 min I can’t be sure if England they sat back or were pushed back, but even though it’s only one game, I’m still pretty sure that England haven’t found the right balance in midfield, and maybe not in attack. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alexander-Arnold on the bench in the next game.
89 min Mladenovic breaks away from the left again, Stones shoots clear and runs brilliantly towards his own net when Serbia recycles possession, Milinkovic-Savic drives a yard or two wide from the edge. This is getting dangerous…
87 min Serbia might regret how this game started. Whether under instruction or just nervous, they allow England play for half an hour and given the players at their disposal, it’s no surprise they scored, just as it’s no surprise they’re struggling for control now that they have to.
86 min Another England substitution, Bellingham – best player on the pitch in the first half, anonymous in the second – replaced by Mainoo.
85 min England struggle to break away – another reason to bring in Palmer, I’d say: his ability to keep the ball.
83 min Ball into the box, headed by Stones… and on the edge Vlahovic collects beautifully, spinning in a shot that Pickford turns over! It would have looked good on Charlie if he had let that go, but it was a wonderful game from the striker and I believe you saw it.
82 min “Solution to the Foden Situation,” volunteer Phil Podolski. “Saka is a wonderful player on the back of a great season, but having Gordon on the left would make a world of difference.” Firstly you get Gordon’s very direct punches, secondly you get Foden at his deadliest cutting right. However, I foresee some objections from Arsenal fans.”
I know what you mean, but I increasingly feel that the pace of international football will work very well for Palmer, who has the ability to create from nothing and does so at a different pace to everyone else.
81 min Injured left back, just what England must. I think it’s just a catch, but Trippier stretches him out, foot on the bar, and now he’s back.
79 min “The usual problem that comes to the fore for England“, thinks Mark Gillespie. “Once they lose momentum and control, the manager doesn’t know how to get it back and is too passive. I also disagree with the replacement of Gallagher. We lack the ability to keep possession, which Gallagher won’t help, but Mainoo would be perfect for that.”
I was going to choose Wharton, but agree that Mainoo would also make more sense. But I guess there is a right order and Southgate wants experience on the pitch.
77 min And here’s why! Bowen gets the ball into space on the right, gets the ball beyond Lukic and puts in the kind of cross that’s so appealing. Andy Gray is no doubt imagining the conversation between them as we speak. “How about that skipper, get your Swede on that!” “I like it, new kid!” Trouble is, Kane punishes a header that Rajkovic does superbly to latch on to, heading it onto the post and away ! That was the match right there and Kane couldn’t get it!
76 min Now something else England change, Bowen replaces Saka. I’d go for Palmer, who offers creativity and possession, but Southgate clearly wants energy, and the player he brought in offers plenty of it.
75 min Foden slips past Tadic, who pulls him back and is booked.
74 min Another change for SerbiaZivkovic – who had moments – goes out and Birmančević enters.
73 min The thing about this Gallagher substitution is that we have to try not to lose the lead. What England needing more than energy is control, so actually Wharton might have been a more reasonable replacement.
72 min Saka curls well towards the back post for Rice – he can be so effective in that position – but his shot is smothered and the keeper gives away.
70 min Pickford comes out for the ball and, with no one beside him, chooses to clear the shot. To be honest, I don’t think he was quite ready to catch, but it looked a little odd.
69 min Yep, here’s that change: Gallagher for Alexander-Arnold, who had some good moments but not enough of them. He should offer more in the overall game.
69 min “I enjoy the Alan Shearer call England to hit Les,” chuckled Niall Mullen. “Can we not knock him? Aren’t we going to fuck him?!”
67 min Another poor performance from Alexander-Arnold, Rajkovic cleared his fist easily enough then when England sustains the attack and Bellingham comes down the left, he tries to do too much, dipping back and forth to lose Lukic before curling in a cross that the keeper swallows.
66 min Walker in Kane, who clears for Alexander-Arnold, and although his first touch isn’t the best, it takes him into danger and a block means he wins England’s first corner of the match.
65 min Trippier attacks a loose ball, misses and Tadic grabs the loose ball, sliding a straight pass into the box for Jovic… but it’s just behind him and he can’t control it. It’s a warning though.
65 min Mladenovic gets out from the left and crosses; Foden plucks it out of the sky and then doesn’t get in anyone’s way.
64 min What we’re seeing now is why I don’t think Alexander-Arnold is the right man for England’s midfield: Serbia dominate possession and he’s barely involved.
62 min I wouldn’t be surprised if Southgate is considering a change now that Tadic is in charge. His ability to roam spaces could mean Gallagher is featured if he does so in central areas.
61 min Two more substitutions for Serbia: Jovic for Mitrovic and Tadic for Lukic. delicious!
58 min England have regained some semblance of control but I’m also thinking of giving Foden a break… but excuse me while I interrupt! A spin and ball from behind takes Mladenovic away, he pulls back off the line and Trippier, caught running through him at the front post, does enough to hit Mitrovic without obviously fouling him, and eventually Guehi and Pickford clear each other’s way so that the goalkeeper can dive on the loose ball.
57 min Alexander-Arnold shoots from distance which Rajkovic punches away, but he is soon on the ball again, hinting at a cross before sending Bellingham through with a cut-back; just as he is about to score his second goal, Lukic steps in to make a great shot.
56 min England are letting this slide a bit and I wonder if Southgate is considering a change. As it stands, I’m looking forward to his replacements because that will tell us who he is at the moment; I would consider Cole Palmer, I think it’s good that he plays Saka.
54 min “Is there a risk of Foden becoming one of those players who are great for their clubs but never perform for England?” wonders David Wall. “He’s got more than 30 caps now, but I really can’t remember a performance where he was the dominant player or even that decisive (maybe the World Cup against Wales, but that seemed more like Rashford ).It’s a high-quality list with guys like Barnes, McManaman, Fowler, maybe Hoddle, so he’ll be in good company.”
He’s got plenty of time, but it’s a lot harder to play him in the middle when a team doesn’t hold the ball like Manchester City do – and when you’ve got Bellingham too.
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