Without the necessary firepower to crush a resolute Serbia, England relied on the brilliance of Jude Bellingham this Sunday to secure a successful debut in the Euro 2024 football tournament. Meanwhile, Wout Weghorst, the "fool" of Qatar 2022 due to Lionel Messi, emerged as the hero for the Netherlands.
In the Group C opener, the British squad barely showcased the strength of their roster. Only a header from Bellingham managed to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of coach Gareth Southgate, who was conservative in his approach and managed to stifle the prowess of players like Harry Kane and Phil Foden, among others.
It’s hard to believe the English favorites had such a dream start! The Real Madrid star put the score at 1-0 on the Veltins-Arena scoreboard just 13 minutes into the game. However, the team lacked ideas for the rest of the match, which is why the 40,000 fans acknowledged the value of the goal scorer at the end. "Hey Juuuuude...! Hey Juuuuude...!" fans chanted as he was substituted toward the closing stages. It was a clear way to pay tribute to the architect of the victory, especially since the Serbians troubled Southgate's squad on several occasions. Even the Champions League king club celebrated on the social media platform X.
In the same group, Denmark and Slovenia drew 1-1. The highlight was Christian Eriksen's goal, three years after suffering cardiac arrest in the previous tournament.
Meanwhile, in Group D, the Dutch team staged the comeback of the day against Poland (2-1), despite the absence of lethal striker Robert Lewandowski due to muscle issues. Despite Lewandowski's significant absence, Adam Buksa put the Poles ahead at the 16-minute mark with a header from a corner kick. The joy was short-lived, as Cody Gakpo equalized in the 29th minute, maintaining the suspense until the final moments.
Then, in the 83rd minute, Weghorst, one of the protagonists of Messi's iconic phrase "what are you looking at, fool, go away," scored the second goal for Ronald Koeman's squad. The most sensational part? He had only been on the pitch for 120 seconds.
The European tournament, whose final is scheduled for July 14 in Berlin, Germany's capital, will continue tomorrow with the matches France vs. Austria, Romania vs. Ukraine, and Belgium vs. Slovakia.
Key Moments of Euro 2024 Opening Matches
Given the exciting events of the Euro 2024 opening matches, here are some essential questions and answers to understand the key moments and their implications.
How did Jude Bellingham influence England's victory?
Jude Bellingham scored the only goal in England's match against Serbia, securing a 1-0 victory and demonstrating his critical role in the team.
Why was Wout Weghorst significant in the Netherlands' match?
Wout Weghorst scored the winning goal for the Netherlands against Poland, just 120 seconds after being subbed in, making him the hero of the match.
What was notable about Christian Eriksen's performance?
Christian Eriksen scored a goal for Denmark three years after suffering a cardiac arrest, marking a significant comeback in his career.