Ex-player reactions to England’s opening match: A ‘poor spectacle’ with lack of confidence in the second half

On the early hours of June 17, England secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening UEFA Euro match, a result that brought three points but also raised considerable debate. Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 13th minute to give England the lead; however, the team’s tepid display in the second half left fans and experts questioning their title credentials.

Former Premier League star and commentator Alan Shearer admitted his dissatisfaction with England’s performance after the break, describing it as “unwatchable.”

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand echoed those sentiments, saying, “Alan Shearer hit the nail on the head – we did struggle. At crucial moments, we seemed to lack the necessary composure, and the game became very tense.”

Mike Richards also pointed out England’s loss of confidence in the second half: “I think they lost their belief. When you’re ahead, you naturally become more defensive, trying to protect your lead, and that’s what we saw today. With such a talented squad, we should be able to manage games better, even if not pushing for more goals.”

“Tactically, I wasn’t too impressed with England’s setup in the second half. The team sat too deep, looking disorganized, almost paralysed by fear. Serbia is a strong opponent, physically robust and technically gifted. If England faces stronger teams with this approach, they’ll be punished. Considering it’s just the start of the tournament, they need to learn quickly from this experience, as the second-half display was indeed frustrating,” he added.

Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas called for England’s stars to step up: “It’s all about mindset. Players like Arnold, Foden, Bellingham, and Rice can’t possibly lack the ability to control the ball anywhere on the pitch. The question is, do they have the determination to take charge and own that responsibility? Are they willing to create opportunities under pressure? Do they enjoy mastering a game when things get tough? Yes, the second half was disappointing – that word fits. I believe players like Foden should step forward now, it’s their time to establish themselves as world-class talents at the international level.”

Ferdinand added, “Of course, individual players must take responsibility and show the composure we see in their club matches, but simultaneously, the tactical setup should enable them to play with poise under pressure, pressing high and exploiting spaces, as we witnessed in the first half. I agree with Fàbregas – the key difference lies in how England didn’t respond proactively when faced with adversity.”