England have ‘hard work ahead’ after win over Serbia, says Gareth Southgate

Football
17 Jun 2024 • 4:59 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

Gareth Southgate said star midfielder Jude Bellingham “writes his own script” after helping England make a winning start to Euro 2024 against Serbia.

The 20-year-old scored a brilliant header inside 13 minutes of their Group C opener as the road to final got off to a dream start at a rocking Veltins Arena.

But what could have been a statement victory instead turned into a slog against physical Serbia, who pushed England hard but could not find a leveller as Sunday’s clash ended 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen.

“This team is still coming together, everybody is expecting us to waltz through,” Southgate said.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead.”