Fri | Nov 15, 2024

England, Netherlands, Eriksen win at Euros

Published:Monday | June 17, 2024 | 12:11 AM
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England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Euro 2024 Group C football match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, yesterday.
AP
England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Euro 2024 Group C football match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, yesterday.
Denmark’s Christian Eriksen celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game during a Euro 2024 Group C football match against Slovenia in Stuttgart, Germany, yesterday.
AP
Denmark’s Christian Eriksen celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game during a Euro 2024 Group C football match against Slovenia in Stuttgart, Germany, yesterday.
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GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP):

JUDE BELLINGHAM is the star of Kim Kardashian’s male underwear range, England icon David Beckham mimics his trademark goal celebration, and a Beatles classic has become his anthem as adoring fans serenade him with “Hey Jude” when he’s on the field.

Bellingham, it seems, can do no wrong.

No surprise then that he was the player to get England off to a winning start at the European Championship with a first-half goal to beat Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen yesterday.

“Every game I feel like I can make an impact, I feel like I can decide games,” the Real Madrid star said.

“I really enjoy playing football, so when I go out there, I play with a fearlessness because I love doing it so much. It is a release for me.”

Wearing the number-10 jersey once adorned by Wayne Rooney, the midfielder stooped to head in Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 13th minute. Bellingham raced away, arms outstretched in a pose Madrid fans have grown to love and Beckham has replicated on social media in tribute to a player who doesn’t turn 21 until later this month.

Bellingham has already done his talking on the field after a spectacular debut season at Madrid, where he scored 23 goals, won the Spanish title and the Champions League.

Bellingham’s goal was enough to send England to the top of Group C after Denmark drew 1-1 with Slovenia in an earlier game, with Christian Eriksen scoring three years after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field at the last Euros.

Harry Kane so nearly extended the lead in the second half when Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic pushed his far post header on to the underside of the bar.

England play Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday.

England were beaten finalists at the last Euros, losing on penalties to Italy in the final three years ago. They are one of the favourites this time around. Serbia are playing in the Euros for the first time since 2000.

Over in Hamburg, Dutch fans were partying and turned the city into a sea of orange.

The Netherlands secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Poland in Group D thanks to Wout Weghorst’s late goal.