Jude Bellingham has scored to give England a winning start at the European Championship by beating Serbia 1-0 on Monday morning (AEST).

The Real Madrid star put England in front with a stooping header in the 13th minute at the Veltins Arena after Bukayo Saka’s cross. 

Victory sent England to the top of Group C after Denmark drew 1-1 with Slovenia earlier in the day, with Christian Eriksen scoring three years after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field at the last Euros.

Gareth Southgate’s England was a beaten finalist at the last Euros, losing on penalties to Italy in the final three years ago. It is one of the favourites this time around.

The build-up to the game had been overshadowed by concerns about violence between rival supporters. And some of those fears were realised when police rushed to separate brawling fans in Gelsenkirchen earlier in the day.

Social media footage showed men throwing chairs at each other outside a restaurant festooned with Serbian flags in the city, with conflicting reports suggesting English or Albanian fans were also involved.

Loading

AP