Morning all.
So England obtained off to a successful begin at Euro 2024, due to an outstanding aim from the excellent Jude Bellingham. Bukayo Saka was concerned, his cross deflected into the center for the Actual Madrid man to satisfy 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 a substitute.
Bellingham was excellent within the first half, and I believe Saka had a extremely full of life opening 45 too. Particularly when you think about he’s been fighting harm having missed the ultimate recreation of the season because of a groin downside. 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 degree, 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 crew, and the best way they made themselves obtainable to teammates in troublesome 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-Monitor Phil Foden dropped an absolute stinker, it was Saka and Bellingham who have been the center of the England aspect.
Within the second half, Serbia obtained again into it and England turned 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 significantly fee Conor Gallagher, he’s not less than extra naturally accustomed to enjoying in that a part of the pitch. The place England could be grateful is that Declan Rice demonstrated his skill to be mainly all over the place he was wanted final evening. The quantity of instances he popped as much as make an interception, or win a deal with, was necessary as England struggled to seek out any fluency and Serbia appeared for an equaliser.
That they had some half-chances fairly than something clear lower, whereas up the opposite finish I believe 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 aspect. 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 towards higher opposition. Lots for Gareth Southgate to consider forward of their subsequent recreation towards 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 a giant second for him and for Denmark. A deflected second half aim earned Slovenia a degree, and I used to be curious to observe Benjamin Sesko after our curiosity in him. There was the eye-catching second the place he hit the submit with a fierce shot (having put one simply huge within the first half), however I believe you’ll be able to see how staying at Leipzig would possibly simply be the perfect 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 fitting setting to develop is one the place he can play extra recurrently with out the calls for that might include being a participant for a crew hoping to problem for the Premier League.
Within the early recreation, 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 aim from Wout Weghorst (which I’m wondering if Szczesny may have executed higher with) sealed their defeat.
At present, we’ve obtained Romania versus Ukraine within the opener, with Arsenal curiosity coming through Oleksandr Zinchenko. Within the afternoon it’s Leandro Trossard’s Belgium towards Slovakia, and within the night France face Austria. Will William Saliba begin? We’ll discover out in a while.
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 collection, and we’ll even have an Arsecast Further for you – however not till this night. Maintain a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or when you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
For now, have a great one.
