Kieran Trippier and England get the job done, just about…
It ended in victory, just about, England 1 Serbia 0 in Gelsenkirchen.
The Three Lions kicking off their Euros campaign in a Sunday night 8pm kick-off in Group C, with Denmark having drawn 1-1 with Slovenia in the 5pm kick-off.
England team v Serbia:
Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Gallagher 69), Bukayo Saka (Bowen 76), Jude Bellingham (Mainoo 86), Phil Foden, Harry Kane
Anthony Gordon an unused substitute but Kieran Trippier playing the full 90 minutes and doing ok at left-back. His job to stretch things in attack up England’s left hand side, with likes of Foden not willing/able to stay out wide and instead continually drifting inside. With the plan clearly for all of England’s main attacking to be through the middle and especially out wide on the right.
That is where the excellent winning goal came from, a great ball from Walker putting Saka in behind and his deflected cross perfectly then flighted for Bellingham’s pinpoint run into the box and the header giving Serbia’s keeper no chance.
At the other end was Trippier’s main task though and with the rest of the defence he did well, especially after the break when England suddenly went all defensive and invited Serbia to go for the equaliser. The Three Lions offering zero threat in the second-half apart from sub Bowen’s cross, where the keeper made a great save but in reality Kane should have given him zero chance with the header.
Pickford only had one shot on target to save all game and whilst the commentator and pundits raved about it, in reality it was from outside the box and straight at him, the England keeper tipping the ball over the bar. Our Mackem mate did though deal with everything else pretty well, apart from a ridiculous punch when England under pressure in the second half, the ball into the box was an easy catch.
The highlight of Trippier’s performance was when Serbia got into the box on the left and an equaliser beckoned for Serbia with Mitrovic waiting for the ball to be squared for a tap-in. However, the Newcastle defender covering his central defenders had got across and was too strong for Mitro who was sent sprawling and claiming for a forlorn penalty.
England started brightly and at times threatened to blow Serbia away but it was like a switch was flicked in the second half and just trying to see out the one goal win. Whilst Serbia had only one effort on target, of concern for Southgate is that England only had three on target of their own, one shot off target and one corner.
Not the easiest of group games to start off with but clearly England have to do better.
A few thoughts…
I think yet again the big thing for me is that it comes back to so many English players in Premier League are over hyped.
As I said, I thought back four and Pickford ok, including Trippier doing a job on the left.
Problem is though, nobody in this England squad wants to play high on left apart from Gordon. The likes of Saka, Foden, Palmer, Bowen, all want to be on the right.
Bellingham was easily man of match and the one England player very much deserving of the hype.
Rice was good but Foden contributed next to nothing.
Trent Alexander-Arnold does odd good thing but basically is rubbish in midfield. He has a luxury role playing for Liverpool, a freedom pretty much from defensive responsibilities and discipline at right-back, with others covering his obvious weaknesses when the opposition have the ball. Playing him in midfield for England is just ridiculous, he hasn’t got a clue and puts so much pressure on the others.
Saka did well first half and Kane battled well second, though should have scored his header.
In a weak group and with the top two in each one going through PLUS the four best third placed teams, England would have been humiliated if not getting into knockout stages.
That won’t happen but surely Southgate must accept that Alexander-Arnold has to be dropped, whilst Foden looks to need the same, unless replacing Saka on the right, or given the luxury role TAA seemed to think he had on Sunday night.
As for the left hand side, if Southgate wants England to have an attacking threat down the left against Denmark on Thursday, then Gordon must surely be in the frame with not many other natural obvious alternatives.
Hopefully Martin Dubravka makes it three wins out of three for Newcastle United players, as Slovakia take on Belgium at 5pm today.
Newcastle United players on international duty:
Saturday 15 June
Switzerland 3 Hungary 1 (Euros Group match)
The Newcastle United defender with a very good personal performance, playing the full 90 minutes as the Swiss deservedly beat Hungary.
Sunday 16 June
England 1 Serbia 0
England got the job done, eventually.
Anthony Gordon an unused substitute but Kieran Trippier playing the full 90 minutes and doing ok at left-back. His job to stretch things in attack up England’s left hand side, with likes of Foden not willing/able to stay out wide and instead continually drifting inside. With the plan clearly for all of England’s main attacking to be through the middle and especially out wide on the right.
That is where the excellent winning goal came from, a great ball from Walker putting Saka in behind and his deflected cross perfectly then flighted for Bellingham’s pinpoint run into the box and the header giving Serbia’s keeper no chance.
At the other end was Trippier’s main task though and with the rest of the defence he did well, especially after the break when England suddenly went all defensive and invited Serbia to go for the equaliser. The Three Lions offering zero threat in the second-half apart from sub Bowen’s cross where the keeper made a great save but in reality Kane should have given him zero chance with the header.
Pickford only had one shot on target to save all game and whilst the commentator and pundits raved about it, in reality it was from outside the box and straight at him, the England keeper tipping the ball over the bar.
The highlight of Trippier’s performance was when Serbia got into the box on the left and an equaliser beckoned for Serbia with Mitrovic waiting for the ball to be squared for a tap-in. However, the Newcastle defender covering his central defenders had got across and was too strong for Mitro who was sent sprawling and claiming for a forlorn penalty.
Monday 17 June
Slovakia v Belgium (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match 5pm ITV1
Wednesday 19 June
Switzerland v Scotland (Fabian Schar) Euros Group match 8pm BBC1
Thursday 20 June 2024
England v Denmark (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match 5pm BBC1
Friday 21 June 2024
Slovakia v Ukraine (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match 2pm BBC1
Sunday 23 June 2024
Switzerland v Germany (Fabian Schar) Euros Group match 8pm BBC TBC
Monday 24 June 2024
Costa Rica v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) Copa America Group match
Colombia v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Tuesday 25 June 2024
England v Slovenia (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match 8pm ITV1
Wednesday 26 June 2024
Slovakia v Romania (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match 5pm BBC TBC
Friday 28 June 2024
Paraguay v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Tuesday 2 July 2024
Colombia v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) Copa America Group match
(There will of course be more matches for Newcastle United players if their nations get through the group stages of the Copa America and/or the European Championships.)
Sunday 14 July 2024 – European Championships final.
Sunday 14 July 2024 – Copa America final.
