England secured a victorious start at the European Championship with a 1-0 win over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The winning goal came from Jude Bellingham, who scored a stooping header in the 13th minute off a cross from Bukayo Saka.
Prior to the match, concerns about violence between rival supporters loomed large. Unfortunately, these fears materialized as police had to intervene to break up brawls among fans in Gelsenkirchen, with footage on social media capturing the chaotic scenes.
The atmosphere shifted once the game commenced, with England fans rejoicing over Bellingham's early goal. Harry Kane came close to extending the lead in the second half, only to be denied by a remarkable save from Serbia's goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic.
Kane also made history by marking his 23rd appearance at a major tournament, setting a new record for his country. The victory propelled England to the top of Group C, following Denmark's 1-1 draw with Slovenia earlier in the day, where Christian Eriksen notably scored, marking a poignant moment after his cardiac arrest at the previous Euros.
England's next challenge will be against Denmark on Thursday, as they aim to build on their runner-up finish from the last Euros, where they lost to Italy in a penalty shootout. Serbia, on the other hand, is making its first Euro appearance since 2000.
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