Morning all.
So England obtained off to a successful begin at Euro 2024, because of an excellent objective from the very good Jude Bellingham. Bukayo Saka was concerned, his cross deflected into the center for the Actual Madrid man to fulfill with a thumping header. It wasn’t simply brilliantly timed and properly executed, it was courageous too as a result of the defender knew he wasn’t going to get the ball and tried to clatter the person as an alternative.
Bellingham was excellent within the first half, and I feel Saka had a extremely full of life opening 45 too. Particularly when you think about he’s been fighting damage having missed the ultimate sport of the season as a consequence of a groin drawback. Together with Declan Rice (extra on him anon) and Marc Guehi, they have been the England gamers who performed at one thing near their greatest stage, however these two particularly stood out.
It wasn’t simply what they did with the ball – and we all know how a lot high quality they each have in that regard – it was the best way they labored for the group, and the best way they made themselves out there to teammates in tough conditions. In a primary half when the England captain ambled round having only one contact of the ball in 45 minutes, and the so-called Participant of the Season Flat-Observe Phil Foden dropped an absolute stinker, it was Saka and Bellingham who have been the center of the England facet.
Within the second half, Serbia obtained again into it and England grew to become a bit disjointed. Trent in midfield didn’t actually work, which isn’t essentially his fault as a result of he’s being performed out of place, and I whereas I don’t notably price Conor Gallagher, he’s at the least extra naturally accustomed to enjoying in that a part of the pitch. The place England may be grateful is that Declan Rice demonstrated his means to be principally all over the place he was wanted final night time. The quantity of occasions he popped as much as make an interception, or win a deal with, was necessary as England struggled to search out any fluency and Serbia appeared for an equaliser.
That they had some half-chances slightly than something clear minimize, whereas up the opposite finish I feel we noticed the save of the match as far as Predrag Rajkovic denied Kane, however by that point the sport had descended right into a low high quality scrap with little significant high quality from both facet. England received’t care an excessive amount of, I’m certain – a win is a win and groups can usually develop right into a match – however I don’t assume that midfield stability is kind of proper and I wouldn’t fancy it in opposition to higher opposition. Lots for Gareth Southgate to consider forward of their subsequent sport in opposition to Denmark on Thursday.
Talking of whom, they drew 1-1 with Slovenia. Christian Eriksen scored the opener, and when you think about what occurred with him on the final Euros, this was an enormous second for him and for Denmark. A deflected second half objective earned Slovenia some extent, and I used to be curious to look at Benjamin Sesko after our curiosity in him. There was the eye-catching second the place he hit the publish with a fierce shot (having put one simply huge within the first half), however I feel you possibly can see how staying at Leipzig would possibly simply be the very best factor for him at this level in his profession. There are some uncooked substances there, for certain, however they’re very uncooked proper now, and maybe the correct surroundings to develop is one the place he can play extra usually with out the calls for that may include being a participant for a group hoping to problem for the Premier League.
Within the early sport, I assumed Jakub Kiwior did properly for Poland, however their day led to disappointment with a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands. Having gone forward, Poland have been pegged again by a deflected shot which wrong-footed former Gunner Wojciech Szczesny, and a late objective from Wout Weghorst (which I’m wondering if Szczesny might have carried out higher with) sealed their defeat.
At the moment, we’ve obtained Romania versus Ukraine within the opener, with Arsenal curiosity coming by way of Oleksandr Zinchenko. Within the afternoon it’s Leandro Trossard’s Belgium in opposition to Slovakia, and within the night France face Austria. Will William Saliba begin? We’ll discover out afterward.
For extra on the Euros, be part of us over on Patreon a bit later this morning as we recap yesterday video games in our ongoing podcast sequence, and we’ll even have an Arsecast Additional for you – however not till this night. Maintain an eye fixed out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or if you happen to’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
For now, have one.
