England 1-0 Serbia: Three Lions lead at half-time as flying header from Jude Bellingham will get England’s Euros marketing campaign off to sturdy begin

England’s golden boy Jude Bellingham has put Gareth Southgate’s facet in a robust place at half-time – because the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 marketing campaign acquired off to a flyer in Germany tonight. 

Tens of hundreds of followers within the stadium in Germany and tens of millions extra watching from house erupted because the 20-year-old star gave England a 1-0 lead simply 13 minutes into the match with a elegant flying header into the highest nook.

Bellingham and the remainder of the star-studded squad have the help of their households, WAGs and the entire nation as they attempt to go higher than three years in the past once they misplaced on penalties in opposition to Italy within the ultimate at Wembley.

The Euro 2020 ultimate was marred by ugly scenes as ticketless followers pressured their method into Wembley – and the scourge of soccer hooliganism made a shameful return this afternoon as England and Serbian followers clashed on the streets in Germany.

Regardless of the violence and journey delays sparking chaos, tens of hundreds of excited followers have made it to the Veltins-Enviornment, whereas tens of millions of Brits have packed out bars and fan zones at house – many launching pints into the air when Bellingham scored.

Greater than 30,000 England followers – solely 20,000 of whom are believed to have tickets – are in Gelsenkirchen for a conflict which has been designated as ‘excessive danger’ as a result of popularity of the 2 fanbases. 

Solely low-alcohol beer is being served within the Gelsenkirchen stadium in an try to cut back the potential for issues. 

Amongst these within the crowd is Jordan Pickford’s spouse, Megan Davison, who arrived early sporting a cropped England shirt together with her husband’s primary on. Jude Bellingham’s mother and father, Mark and Denise, and footballer brother, Jobe, took selfies with the gang, whereas the companions of Harry Kane, Luke Shaw, Ollie Watkins and Conor Gallagher have additionally been noticed.

After each international locations belted out their respective nationwide anthems, the highly-anticipated conflict lastly acquired underway – with followers on either side elevating the roof in Germany. 

England are of their conventional white strip, whereas Serbia are enjoying in crimson.

The WAGs had been seen smiling, waving and cheering as England captain Kane led the squad out to the pitch. 

The Three Lions made an assured begin, seeing loads of the ball whereas Serbia had been sitting deep. 

And simply 13 minutes into the sport, Bellingham met an inch excellent cross from Bukayo Saka with a surprising header to present England the lead – sending followers in Germany and at house wild.

Moments later, Serbia’s star striker Aleksandar Mitrović virtually levelled as he tried to capitalise on a poor error from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Halfway via the primary half, the pacey Kyle Walker stormed via on objective, almost doubling England’s lead, however firing narrowly extensive.

Ten minutes earlier than half-time, Bukayo Saka breezed previous the Serbian defence  and looked for Phil Foden with a cutback however he could not fairly discover his team-mate.

England’s early dominance pale within the minutes earlier than half-time, however Southgate’s facet had been in a robust place on the break due to Bellingham’s header. 

Southgate has inspired supporters to get pleasure from their time in Germany and Three Lions followers had been actually having fun with themselves when Bellingham opened the scoring. Many are dressed head to toe in England colors as supporters flocked to bars for German steins.

Some England followers have been heard chanting a Second World Conflict-related track, ‘Ten German bombers’, regardless of pleas in opposition to doing so by police and the FA.

But many extra followers have been good-humoured as they raised pints with fellow followers and German hosts, in addition to these following this night’s Serbian opponents. 

Tens of hundreds of Brits began ingesting early within the wonderful sunshine in Germany earlier than the heavens opened hours earlier than kick off. 

Excited followers had been noticed downing booze because the environment for England’s opener ramped up. 

At house, England followers have flocked to boozers – regardless of the awkward timing of the sport, with many in work on Monday morning.

Males, ladies and youngsters have been noticed draped in St George’s flags as they help Southgate’s squad on their quest to finish 58 years of harm.

Tonight’s sport marks a return to Gelsenkirchen 18 years after Wayne Rooney noticed crimson there as England crashed out of the World Cup but once more on penalties.

The Three Lions, managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson and captained by David Beckham, misplaced their World Cup quarter-final shoot-out to Portugal in June 2006.

Star striker Wayne Rooney was despatched off for a stamp on opposing centre-back Ricardo Carvalho, with the England man’s then-Manchester United clubmate Cristiano Ronaldo caught on digital camera winking after main protests for a crimson card.

Keep-at-home followers will down an estimated 30million pints in pubs and of their properties for tonight’s opening confrontation with Serbia – with an viewers of about 17million anticipated to tune within the BBC One’s protection.

England’s 35,000 pubs have been braced for ‘Tremendous Sunday’, with greater than 14million pints anticipated to be bought – and one other 16million tucked into at house.

An estimated 40,000 England supporters are believed to have descended this weekend on Gelsenkirchen and neighbouring cities similar to Dusseldorf and Cologne.

However many confronted points reaching the stadium after a damaged down practice induced public transport delays.

Annoyed followers reported ready greater than half an hour for a practice, whereas sports activities author Oliver Kay described the scenario as a ‘whole mess’.

He wrote on social media: ‘For any England or Serbia followers who’re nonetheless in the course of Gelsenkirchen (or worse nonetheless not there but), I’d advocate you set off on foot for those who can. It’s about three miles however the public transport scenario is a complete mess.’

German police have been working with authorities from London and Belgrade to attempt to keep away from ugly scenes within the areas across the stadium and through the sport itself.

Earlier this afternoon, England and Serbian soccer followers clashed in ugly scenes in Gelsenkirchen.

Surprising photos confirmed supporters lined in blood after violence broke out forward of kick off.

German riot police shortly descended on the scene this afternoon, with police sources telling MailOnline no less than six individuals have been arrested.

There was hypothesis over which supporters had been concerned within the vicious brawls, with stories initially suggesting the violence was sparked by Serbia’s arch-rivals Albania attacking Serbs.

Nevertheless, Gelsenkirchen police have now mentioned it was English and Serbian followers who had been concerned within the combating.

‘It was an altercation between English and Serbian followers, who had been separated by the police,’ a spokesman mentioned. ‘Additional measures are underway and the background is presently being clarified.’

Officers moved in after hassle erupted between followers exterior a restaurant-bar simply after 3.30pm. Video exhibits a gaggle of thugs – some hooded and masked – launching bottles, chairs and tables – whereas some supporters had been seen fleeing the realm for security as pressure boiled over.

One English fan is believed to have suffered a head wound within the fracas, with one different injured.

Earlier, the UK’s devoted Soccer Policing Unit launched an announcement saying a ‘variety of arrests’ have been made, however it’s believed these detained are Serbian.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Soccer Policing Unit mentioned: ‘We’re conscious of a difficulty in Gelsenkirchen forward of the England v Serbia match.

‘Our German colleagues have made numerous arrests of what we presently imagine to be Serbian supporters.

‘At this stage we don’t imagine that any UK nationals have been arrested however enquiries are ongoing.

‘Our officers are on the location talking to German colleagues.

‘Our investigation workforce is now reviewing footage of the incident and if any UK nationals have been concerned, soccer banning orders might be sought.’