Euro 2024 column: Limahl, Mbappe and Belgium's golden generation

A WIN, a clean sheet, a couple of genuinely impressive performances, but did England do enough against Serbia to substantiate their top billing?

Considering their record in the opening matches of major tournaments, you might think three points would be the only thing necessary to placate an expectant nation.

But a subdued second half, in which England defended deep and absorbed pressure without allowing too much access to Jordan Pickford’s goal did little to quell the general feeling that Gareth Southgate’s team is not quite as good as the bookmakers would have you believe.

The precocious Jude Bellingham produced some marvellous moments, not least a brave header in the 13th minute from Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross to win the game.

The Real Madrid youngster also stepped a fine disciplinary line, reacting to some of the Serbian’s attempts to wind him up, and so even his glittering performance comes with an asterisk.

England looked to have the measure of Serbia for the first half-hour, particularly when feeding the ball out wide to Saka. A glance towards the opposite side of the pitch, however, and you would see Kieran Trippier sitting deep and Phil Foden struggling to have any impact on the game whatsoever, creating a lopsided feel to the team.

Bellingham and Saka were good enough to see that through the first 45 minutes but Serbia’s midfield mettle started to gain them more possession, leaving the single-goal lead looking more uncomfortable than it needed to be.

Pickford made only one save of real note, pushing over a dipping effort from Dusan Vlahovic, due in the main to some impressively calm defending in front of him. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi was excellent and concerns over John Stones’s fitness proved unfounded.

England struggled at times to find the right ball out from the back to try and capitalise on the counter but nearly went 2-0 up when Pedrag Rajkovic made a brilliant save to push Harry Kane’s header on to the woodwork.

Had that gone in, nerves would have been calmed, but the tetchiness continued to the final whistle and some of Southgate’s selection decisions will be debated long and hard over the next few days.

Trent Alexander-Arnold moved the ball well when England were on top but his inexperience as a holding midfielder was shown up when Serbia started to take control. When England come up against Denmark, and Christian Eriksen in particular, it would be a brave move indeed to continue with this experiment.

Foden drifted infield from the left but little came off for him. Would it have been different had he been played through the middle and Bellingham dropped deeper? Who knows.

Limahl could make a comeback after the Euros (Image: PA)

TV View: Marc Iles

WE’RE only a few days into the Euros and we already know who has won.

I am not talking about the impressive Germans, the slick young Spanish side or the surprising Swiss – I’m talking about a 65-year-old Wiganer, who has been given an unlikely career revival by ITV.

The name Limahl won’t mean a lot to Generation Z, and they may only know his 1984 hit NeverEnding Story because it was featured in the fourth season of Stranger Things.

But the tune has been a catchy hook for the Euro 2024 credits ranks up there with the best ITV have managed down the years.

Themed around the Grimm Fairytales, you have Cristiano Ronaldo as Little ed Riding Hood, Toni Kroos getting his boots made by the Elves and the Shoemaker, Kasper Schmeichel watching his dad lift the trophy in 1992 through Snow White’s magical mirror and Harry Kane climbing up Rapunzel’s hair. It’s all rather daft, but it works.

By contrast, the BBC have taken a very similar approach to the one they used for the Qatar World Cup and the Olympics, in fact, I wonder if they bought them as a job lot several years ago and are just getting their money’s worth?

ITV’s punditry has been excellent too, particularly on the opening night when they brought out Roy Keane and Graeme Souness to examine Scotland’s catastrophic start. Their only let-down – as ever on the commercial channel – was the adverts, and particularly the constant reminders to ‘Visit Qatar’ which felt very Grimm indeed.

I don’t mind the addition of American Christina Unkel to clarify some of the refereeing decisions for the viewers. What she has said has been clear and concise, which is a step-up on the officials they usually rope in for that sort of thing. Peter Walton’s persistent agreeing on BT/TNT used to drive me mad.

I can’t say I am over-familiar with Unkel’s work in the States but so far, so good.

Andros Townsend has also made a solid start to co-commentary duties, and with his playing days still very much present, has a real professional’s eye for mistakes and potential problems.

The semi-automated VAR offsides has been a welcome addition to the tournament and seems to be speeding things up nicely, but Townsend has managed to spot a couple of things miles ahead of anyone else. Maybe the PGMOL should get him on board when he decides to hang up his boots?

Can this tournament manage to save VAR and bring Limahl back into the charts? Let’s see.

I heard the latter was asked by UEFA to do a live gig before the final but turned it down. He was Too Shy.

I’ll get my coat.

Euro view: Elliott Jackson

In the eyes of many, Belgium missed their chance with their very own underperforming 'golden generation'.

Domenico Tedesco's Red Army has a very different look, though some of the faces may be the same. No, your eyes don't deceive you, that really is Jan Vertonghen still going at the age of 37.

Kevin de Bruyne is now in the twilight of his international career, Eden Hazard retired and Thibaut Cortios at home after a public spat with his new boss.

Many will feel that Roberto Martinez was guilty of wasting Belgium's most talented crop in modern history. The truth is, they were a little unfortunate with some of their exits.

The upset against Wales is hard to justify at Euro 2016, as is the World Cup group stage exit in Qatar, a match that lives long in the memory of everyone for Romelu Lukaku's seemingly deliberate misses.

But they finished third in Russia, 2018, losing narrowly to the eventual winners France. They were beaten by the eventual winners, Italy in Euro 2020, which was actually a year later because of COVID.

Belgium no longer have the same star-studded line-up but there is plenty of talent. Jeremy Doku has shown in his debut season at Manchester City how dangerous he can be. He lacks consistency in his end product but his match-winning qualities are perhaps better suited to international tournament football.

With De Bruyne pulling the strings and Lukaku in great form for his country, they will always be a threat. The back line creaks a little but they have the individual quality to beat plenty of teams.

I don't expect them to trouble the final four but quarter-finals should be a realistic aim nonetheless. Very few would've fancied Italy heading into the last tournament but they surprised a fair few.

Euro View: Dan Barnes

If Kylian Mbappe can replicate his form from the World Cup two years ago, I’m not sure anyone can stop France from winning the Euros.

Everyone remembers Mbappe’s performance in the final against Argentina, scoring a remarkable hat trick to take the game to penalties.

It was an absolute travesty the Frenchman ended up on the losing side that day, but football can be a strange game.

Mbappe secured the Golden Boot in Qatar with eight goals, one more than Argentina hero Lionel Messi, and it is no surprise to see him listed as the favourite this time around.

The only thing that could hold back the pacey forward in Germany is if his mind is elsewhere, having recently completed a high profile move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

After six years at PSG and more than 250 goals, the Frenchman is now preparing to wear the famous white strip. Will the prospect of an injury ruining his start to life in La Liga play on Mbappe’s mind?

I guess we will find out tonight when France take on Austria. Didier Deschamps will be keen to get off to a strong start before facing the Netherlands on Friday, and the final group game against Poland could also be tricky.

Of course, the French are much more than a one-man team. They have some excellent defenders and opponents will dread coming up against William Saliba, in particular, after an impressive campaign at Arsenal.

Moreover, the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Kingsley Coman can unlock the tightest of defences and who could forget Olivier Giroud?

I thought there was very little between the sides when England were knocked out by France in Qatar and if Gareth Southgate’s men are going to have any chance of bringing it home, they will surely have to win a rematch.