Morning all.
So England obtained off to a profitable begin at Euro 2024, due to an outstanding purpose from the very good 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 effectively 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 very full of life opening 45 too. Particularly when you think about he’s been fighting harm having missed the ultimate recreation of the season on account 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 degree, however these two specifically 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 way in which they labored for the crew, and the way in which 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-Observe 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 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 fee Conor Gallagher, he’s a minimum of extra naturally accustomed to taking part in in that a part of the pitch. The place England may be grateful is that Declan Rice demonstrated his capacity to be mainly in all places he was wanted final night time. The quantity of instances he popped as much as make an interception, or win a deal with, was essential as England struggled to search out any fluency and Serbia regarded for an equaliser.
They’d some half-chances quite than something clear reduce, 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 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 suppose that midfield stability is kind of proper and I wouldn’t fancy it towards higher opposition. A lot 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 purpose 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 feel you possibly can see how staying at Leipzig would possibly simply be one of the 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 appropriate setting to develop is one the place he can play extra often with out the calls for that may include being a participant for a crew hoping to problem for the Premier League.
Within the early recreation, I believed Jakub Kiwior did effectively 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 purpose from Wout Weghorst (which I ponder if Szczesny might have performed higher with) sealed their defeat.
At this time, 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 towards Slovakia, and within the night France face Austria. Will William Saliba begin? We’ll discover out afterward.
For extra on the Euros, be a 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 in the event you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
For now, have one.
