Euro 2024: Slovenia hold Denmark as England Netherlands win on tight rope

On Sunday, the Netherlands secured a late 2-1 victory over Poland, while England began their pursuit of their first major tournament title in 58 years with a 1-0 win over Serbia, thanks to Jude Bellingham's header.

Christian Eriksen scored the opening goal in a remarkable return to the European Championship three years after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field. However, Slovenia held Denmark to a 1-1 draw.

England had been touted as one of the tournament's top contenders as Gareth Southgate endeavours to guide a generation of exceptional talent to victory.

Nevertheless, England's tournament debut in Gelsenkirchen was unremarkable, indicating that there is still space for improvement.

The Real Madrid midfielder, Bellingham was the exception, as he solidified his position as one of the world's emerging talents with a man-of-the-match performance.

The 20-year-old became the first European player to participate in three major tournaments before turning 21.

He concluded an exceptional individual performance by scoring the sole goal on 13 minutes by nodding in Bukayo Saka's deflected cross.

"Jude Bellingham is made up of amazing people. It’s not just me. It’s because I have such a great support network," said the match-winner.

Serbian custodian Predrag Rajkovic deflected Harry Kane's late header onto the bar.

However, England was compelled to endure a tense conclusion as Jordan Pickford saved Dusan Vlahovic's arching drive and Kane headed away Veljko Birmancevic's goal-bound attempt.

The German police had proclaimed the match to be "high risk," and there were minor confrontations between rival supporters before the start of the game. As a result, seven Serbian fans were apprehended.

Super sub Weghorst 

For the Netherlands, Wout Weghorst struck in the 83rd minute, just two minutes after coming on as a substitute, to secure an opening Group D victory against Poland without the injured Robert Lewandowski.

"I am very happy. This is indescribable, especially at a final tournament. So unique. This is personally a dream scenario," said Weghorst.

"The absolute goal is to win that cup together."

Hours before the commencement of the match, Hamburg's streets were filled with Dutch supporters, who generated an orange wall of commotion.

The Volksparkstadion was filled with the reverberation of Poland supporters' voices as Adam Buksa scored the opening goal for his team. However, Cody Gakpo levelled the score with the help of a deflection before the half-hour mark.

As the Oranje's wasted opportunities mounted, Gakpo, Memphis Depay, and Denzel Dumfries all came close to scoring. Ronald Koeman's team appeared to be at a loss for ideas until Weghorst swooped in to score a well-deserved victory.

The Dutch, who emerged victorious in 1988, are eager to rectify their dismal recent Euros performance, which has yet to extend beyond the quarterfinals since 2008.

Police in Hamburg shot and injured a man who had threatened them with a Molotov cocktail and an axe before the game's commencement. However, a police spokesperson denied that the incident was associated with the game.

Elevate your betting experience with Sky247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.