Euro 2024 column: England spark questions but not conclusions

Gareth Southgate will be delighted that England got over the line against Serbia in their Euros opener but after a dominant first half, their showing after the interval raised more questions than provided answers.

England were impressive in the opening 35 minutes. Jude Bellingham dominated the match, strutting his stuff. It was a relief to see him given the freedom to roam from the number 10 position, often dropping back into deeper areas to collect the ball and create.

There were a few important tackles and blocks from the Real Madrid man, who looks far more effective with the picture ahead of him. His strength and power make him a perfect box-to-box, do-it-all midfielder, not someone who should be confined to the top-end of the pitch.

The way Bellingham dominated the centre of the pitch was reminiscent of Steven Gerrard. The perfect timing of his late run into the box was Frank Lampard-esque. The sheer desire to meet Bukayo Saka's cross outweighed the defender and produced the decisive moment.

The Arsenal winger was the main competition for Bellingham's player-of-the-match award on first-half evidence. With his team-mate roaming and Phil Foden drifting, Saka gave them the width needed and constantly beat his full-back.

I don't know what happened in the second half but England were a different team. Southgate alluded to fitness issues perhaps tempting them to defend deeper. Possibly?

The way they surrendered the ascendency was worrying, as was the England boss' lack of reaction from the bench. I am not a Southgate basher by any means but criticism of his in-game management can't be defended, at times.

It was clear on the hour-mark that England had run out of steam, needed more legs in the middle and a better outlet out wide to stretch Serbia.

Connor Gallagher came 10 minutes too late, as did Jarrod Bowen. Anthony Gordon should've been introduced too given how ineffective Foden became and how lop-sided their attack was.

The biggest concern for me in the group stages is England's left side. How do they get a better balance? Well, hopefully, Luke Shaw will be fit soon and that will certainly help, but it's worrying to rely on a half-cooked defender who hasn't played since February.

For the good of the team, Southgate either needs to compromise or drop one of his star attackers. On the evidence of the first half, I see no reason why Declan Rice, who was excellent, Bellingham and Foden can't play together. Particularly, against weaker opposition.

If Southgate is insistent that isn't for him then someone has to be sacrificed for the balance of the team. England have always looked at their best with runners beyond Harry Kane, think Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford at their best.

The captain was isolated and ineffectual, particularly second half, through little fault of his own. England would be a far better team, in my opinion, with Saka and Gordon in the team, on either flank.

Foden has not produced the moments of magic we've seen regularly for Manchester City. Saka and Bellingham's contributions in an England shirt far outweigh his, unfortunately.

It would be a crying shame if someone as talented as Foden can't get in the England team. But it would be even worse to jeopardise the effectiveness of the team just to shoe-horn him in.

England's defence stood up to the challenge, which was a big positive. Bellingham shrugged off any worries of burn-out or fatigue. But the same nagging doubts weren't eased on matchday one.

England View: Marc Iles

Nothing can be ‘okay’ anymore, as England found out on Sunday night.

In the lawless land of social media, you are either the greatest thing since sliced bread or the worst manager, player or team in the world, there is no middle ground.

You don’t have to search very far to know what I mean. Phil Foden put out a tweet not long after the final whistle of a 1-0 win against Serbia, met largely by a barrage of abuse from nameless morons who should have been in bed.

He didn’t play particularly well and there is definitely a wider debate to be had about his starting position in his England team, and whether he can have the same impact out wide without the guiding hand of a Bernardo Silva or a Kevin De Bruyne around him.

But judging by some of the comments you’d think his inclusion in the team was somehow controversial, and that he wasn’t a generational talent comparable with anyone in this tournament.

Has social media reduced concentration and intellect levels to the point where we can’t consider one performance on its merits, and must polarise every single opinion lest we miss out on a few likes?

Foden’s performance was a five out of 10, I’d argue the same could be said about Kieran Trippier who played within himself on the left. That literally nothing was going down that side of the pitch for England reinforces those lopsided arguments that have been thrown at England, especially without Luke Shaw.

I can understand the disappointment that the team became unnecessarily submissive in the second half and there were some poor choices in possession all over the pitch which meant they could not build attacks in the same way they did over the first half an hour.

It might just mean, however, that England are a good team finding their form, not a great one taking backward steps. And that’s OK, it might still be enough to win them the tournament.

TV View - Marc Iles:

Nearly 15 million people tuned into England v Serbia at its peak – which is four million more than any other UK programme during 2024.

Amazing numbers in this digital world and good ammunition for whoever sells the adverts for these major tournaments.

I don’t claim to have a firm grip on global branding but there are some weird company names claiming centre stage in Germany.

I’ve already expressed my dislike for ITV’s coverage giving blanket sponsorship to ‘Visit Qatar’ though I appreciate it is probably a UEFA tie-in. I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the BBC lobbing in trailers for iPlayer, though, regardless of how well Mark Pougatch builds up the new season of the Great British Sewing Bee.

The corporate sponsors have provided some head-scratching moments. The perimeter of the pitch often flashes up someone boasting to be the “No1 Nev Maker” – a title that can surely only be bestowed on Gary Neville’s grandad.

David Beckham pops up in random adverts for Alipay, giving little clue what they actually do, and something called Hisense proudly and ambiguously claims to be ranked “Number Two Globally”. Well done to them.

Lidl’s name is everywhere, as is a company called Atos, which according to Google specialises in hi-tech transactional services, unified communications, cloud, big data and cybersecurity services.  Nope, me neither.

Throw in the fact you can’t turn on a laptop up to three hours before an England game without Paddy Power finding some way to offer you a novel way to fritter your money away, and it all leaves you feeling a bit icky.

Not quite as bad, however, as the advert for Hellman’s mayonnaise, clearly filmed well in advance of the Euros, which has among its stars Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford. Oops!