Chosen by Kim Kardashian and loved by fans, Bellingham powers England to 1-0 win over Serbia at Euros

GELSENKIRCHEN – Jude Bellingham is the star of Kim Kardashian’s men’s underwear range, England icon David Beckham imitates his famous goal celebration, and a Beatles classic has become his anthem as his adoring fans serenade him with “Hey Jude” when he’s on the field.

Bellingham, it seems, can do no wrong.

So it’s no surprise that he was the player who got England off to a winning start at the European Championship with a first-half goal to beat Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.

“Every game I feel like I can have an impact, I feel like I can decide games,” the Real Madrid star said. “I really love playing football, so when I go, I play without fear because I love doing it so much. It’s a release for me.”

Wearing the No. 10 jersey once worn by Wayne Rooney, the midfielder leaned down to head home Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 13th minute. Bellingham ran away, arms outstretched in a pose that Madrid fans have grown to love and Beckham replicated on social media in tribute to a player who only turns 21 later this month.

Bellingham has already made waves on the pitch after a spectacular first season at Madrid where he scored 23 goals, won the Spanish title and the Champions League.

He is also a sensation.

Like Beckham, his appeal extends far beyond football. Presumably, that’s what Kardashian knew after Bellingham was chosen to showcase her SKIMS underwear men’s clothing line. He’s also the star of an ad campaign for sportswear giant Adidas, which also features Beckham, who is just another of Bellingham’s many fans.

So much, so soon, for someone so young, could be considered cause for concern.

But Bellingham is not an average player.

“He writes his own script,” England manager Gareth Southgate said.

Bellingham’s goal was enough to send England top of Group C after Denmark drew 1-1 with Slovenia in an earlier match, with Christian Eriksen scoring three years after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field during the last Euro.

Harry Kane almost extended the lead in the second half when Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic poked his header at the far post under the bar.

England face Denmark on Thursday in Frankfurt.

England were beaten finalists at the last Euros, losing on penalties to Italy in the final three years ago. It’s one of the favorites this time around. Serbia is participating in the Euro for the first time since 2000.

Preparation for the match had been overshadowed by concerns about violence between rival fans. And some of those fears were realized when police rushed to separate brawling fans in Gelsenkirchen earlier in the day.

Footage posted on social media showed men throwing chairs at each other outside a restaurant decorated with Serbian flags in the city.

England fans were quick to celebrate once the match started following Bellingham’s decisive moment.

And he has no problem with the song his supporters attach to him.

“I listen to the Beatles a lot. My style of music is a bit old, so it suits me perfectly,” he said.

In Hamburg, Dutch fans were also celebrating and turned the city into a sea of ​​orange. The Netherlands secured a 2-1 victory over Poland in Group D thanks to Wout Weghorst’s late goal.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024