West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen came off the bench to help England clinch an important 1-0 win over Serbia in their first outing at UEFA Euro 2024.
The 27-year-old - who was crowned Hammer of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 domestic campaign after notching 20 goals in all competitions, and a Club record-equalling 16 in the Premier League - entered the fray in Gelsenkirchen as a 76th-minute replacement for Bukayo Saka, with the Three Lions ahead thanks to Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute opener.
With Serbia having worked their way into the contest after a strong start by Gareth Southgate’s men, Bowen was sent on to the field tasked with upping England’s attacking threat, and he made an immediate impact when his cross from the right found Harry Kane whose header clattered the crossbar.
Overall, on his ninth senior cap and first appearance at a major international tournament, the Irons’ No20 covered 2.21km, contributed six passes with 86 per cent accuracy, and held possession 12 times by the time of referee Daniele Orsato’s final whistle.
Three crucial points move England to the top of Group C after one round of games, with Slovenia and Denmark’s clash earlier on Sunday resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Bowen and his teammates are next in action against Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday 20 June (5pm BST), five days before their final group-stage fixture against Slovenia in Cologne (Tuesday 25 June, 8pm BST).
