
Jordan Pickford was back between the sticks in a major international tournament for England and earned a record-equalling clean sheet in the process and Jude Bellingham's goal was enough to edge Serbia.
The imperious Real Madrid midfielder powered home a brave 13th-minute header to score the only goal of a tight contest that rather stagnated from England's perspective after half-time and the Serbs made a concerted effort to ruin another victorious start for Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions' head coach had Pickford to thank, though, for a fine save eight minutes from the end when he palmed Dusan Vlahovic’s wicked strike over the crossbar.
That preserved a 10th clean sheet in major competition for Pickford that puts him level with Peter Shilton.
Meanwhile, Vitalii Mykolenko was named among the substitutes despite aggravating his ankle injury as Ukraine were beaten heavily by Romania.
And in their opening group game, Amadou Onana and Belgium were defeated by Slovakia, although had Romelu Lukaku left the Everton midfielder's towering header off a set-piece, it might have dropped in and levelled the scores in the first half.
Instead, the former Blues striker touched the ball over the line and the goal was ruled out for offside, as was another Lukaku strike late on that was very harshly chalked off for handball in the build-up.
Reader Comments (21)
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2 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:28:10
3 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:32:59
4 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:41:04
He has matured a lot, but could still command his box better.
But he has literally saved us these past seasons with breathtaking saves that had me not breathing for at least a minute.
5 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:44:38
That's the end of his tournament then! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
6 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:59:00
He has kept us in the game and saved us many times from defeat.
Definitely England's best.
7 Posted 18/06/2024 at 09:50:30
And I reserve my right to be a negative prick!
9 Posted 18/06/2024 at 14:27:39
10 Posted 18/06/2024 at 14:32:16
11 Posted 18/06/2024 at 16:57:12
12 Posted 19/06/2024 at 13:55:02
13 Posted 19/06/2024 at 14:20:46
14 Posted 19/06/2024 at 14:59:20
15 Posted 19/06/2024 at 15:49:15
16 Posted 19/06/2024 at 16:38:05
But for my generation Neville Southall is head and shoulders above. any Everton goalkeepers. The best in Europe in his peak.
Being unbiased, in my youth, England had some great keepers. Shilton stood out but I thought Ray Clemence was underrated by England.
17 Posted 19/06/2024 at 16:54:20
18 Posted 19/06/2024 at 19:50:51
19 Posted 19/06/2024 at 19:54:58
20 Posted 19/06/2024 at 19:59:50
21 Posted 19/06/2024 at 20:05:29
22 Posted 19/06/2024 at 20:08:06
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1 Posted 18/06/2024 at 08:25:56