da pixbet： The Three Lions earned a narrow win in their tournament opener as the coach made some bold selections that paid off handsomely

da brwin： England are off to a flyer in Euro 2024 following a 1-0 win against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham fired the Three Lions ahead in the opening stages of the game, and Gareth Southgate's side never looked back after that, even if they were forced to hold on in the closing stages.

They are currently top of Group C following Denmark's 1-1 draw with Slovenia earlier on Sunday, and they will take on the Danes in their next game on Thursday, knowing another win will secure their spot in the knockout rounds.

As with any major tournament, every move the England manager makes comes under intense scrutiny, so how did Southgate fare in the opener? GOAL has broken down his key decisions…

Getty ImagesSTARTING LINE UP: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Southgate had many options heading into this game and fielded a strong starting XI at the Veltins-Arena. With both Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer pushing for a start, it was a brave call to go with Bukayo Saka, who was lacking match fitness, and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the line up. However, both decisions eventually paid off.

Saka was instrumental in the first goal and continued to look bright throughout. Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, impressed in midfield and suited the free, fast-flowing style of play.

The only issue? Maybe England could benefit from more balance at the back. They had four right footers making up the defence and Kieran Trippier was caught out at times due to not being comfortable on his weaker foot.

If Luke Shaw does get back to full fitness, it could be the icing on the cake.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesIN-GAME MANAGEMENT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

England started this fixture well and Southgate only needed to make minor tweaks to his team during the game. Bellingham was the bright spark early on and giving him complete freedom at both ends of the pitch proved to be the deciding factor.

The England boss also noticed Harry Kane wasn't getting involved in the first half, with just one touch to his name at the time, and instantly told him to drop deeper to receive the ball after the restart.

This opened up more space for other England players and also got their talisman on the ball more frequently. Kane even hit the woodwork with 15 minutes to go, highlighting the impact Southgate's alteration had on his performance.

Getty ImagesSUBSTITUTIONS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As the game approached the 70th minute, fresh legs were needed, and that is exactly what Gallagher brought to the table after replacing Alexander-Arnold.

The Liverpool-born star was given a standing ovation by the England supporters following a strong display in midfield. He was influential in the game, but Southgate made the right call bringing him off in the latter stages of the game.

Saka and Bellingham also made way for Jarrod Bowen and Kobbie Mainoo, respectively, to provide a boost of energy off the bench. The changes made were more about game management rather than searching for a spark, which were executed well to ensure victory was secured.

Getty ImagesHALF-TIME TEAM TALK: ⭐⭐⭐

Serbia looked rejuvenated and aggressive after the interval, which was always going to happen as they chased the game. For England, it was just a matter of staying focused and continuing to control the game, which was easier said than done.

Southgate spent most of the first half sat down on the bench, but couldn't sit still after half-time, and was constantly instructing his team to remain calm on the ball following a frantic restart.

The team talk would have been just more of the same, which England eventually got to as the game progressed.