Euro 2024 scores: Results, highlights, standings as England and the Netherlands win openers

Christian Eriksen’s goal on his return to the Euros three years after his cardiac arrest it served as the headliner for Sunday’s action in the competition, when several heavy hitters played their first games in the competition. That includes the Netherlands, who came from behind to beat Poland, and England, who escaped Serbia’s comeback efforts to win their opening game in Germany.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s action.

Euro 2024 results for Sunday

• Poland 1, Netherlands 2
• Denmark 1, Slovenia 1
• Serbia 0, England 1

England 1, Serbia 0: England survive a poor second half

England, one of the tournament favorites, had an uneven start to their Euro campaign, with a 1-0 victory over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. The Three Lions got off to a quick start when Jude Bellingham continued his breakthrough year with his first goal for England in a major international tournament, scoring a 13th-minute header from Bukayo Saka’s cross.

Serbia returned to the game and played an almost even game, outscoring England six to five in the process. The match had few quality chances as both teams made big mistakes and forced big saves from goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Predrag Rajkovic, but another goal never came. England may have come away from the match with three points and first place in their group, but there may be doubts about their ability to go far at Euro 2024.

Denmark 1, Slovenia 1: Eriksen scores in the second leg

Denmark and Slovenia shared the spoils in Stuttgart, with goals that neither national team will easily forget.

The first goal of the game came in the 17th minute, courtesy of Danish Eriksen, who scored from close range. The goal marked a triumphant return for Eriksen, who suffered cardiac arrest three years ago during Denmark’s 1-0 defeat to Finland in the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020. He returned to the game in February 2022 after receiving an implantable device to monitor his heart rate.

Denmark were in control for most of the game, but were inefficient in their chances, allowing Slovenia to get back into the game. A series of late chances led to Erik Janza’s 72nd-minute equalizer with a long-range shot from a dead ball. It was a great moment for the team, who returned to the Euros for the first time since 2000.

Netherlands 2, Poland 1: Weghorst rescues Holland

Wout Weghorst’s 83rd-minute goal secured the Netherlands’ three points in their opening Euro game, allowing his team to come from behind after going down early.

Poland, who were without striker Robert Lewandowski for much of the game due to injury, changed the Netherlands’ plans in the 16th minute, when Adam Buksa scored skillfully from a dead ball. It didn’t take long for the Dutch to level the score, with Cody Gakpo scoring from outside the box in the 29th minute.

The Dutch maintained an attack-first strategy and dominated for much of the match, with 70% possession of the ball and 21 shots. They wasted their chances, putting just four on the board – fewer than Poland, who kicked 12 but got seven on target.

Weghorst’s reputation as a super substitute served the Netherlands well and, just two minutes after coming on, the striker scored the go-ahead goal. The quick shot from close range was Weghorst’s first touch of the game and finally gave the Dutch the lead they had been looking for for almost 70 minutes.

How are things

Group C

1. England, 3 points (+1)
2. Denmark, 1 point (0)
3. Slovenia, 1 point (0)
4. Serbia, 0 points (-1)

Group D

1. Netherlands, 3 points (+1)
2. Austria, 0 points (0)
3. France, 0 points (0)
4. Poland, 0 points (-1)

Goal of the day

Slovenia ensured their first Euro match since 2000 would end in style thanks to Erik Janza’s 77th-minute equalizer against Denmark. His team deserved a corner and although they were initially unable to take it, Janza’s run towards the ball and his shot from outside the box meant that Slovenia’s return to continental competition would be completed with a memorable moment.

Player of the day

If there’s anything the past year has taught us, it’s that this is Jude Bellingham’s world and we all live in it. That was what happened again on Sunday, when the youngster translated his star form at Real Madrid into an important performance for England, scoring the only goal of the game. The Three Lions may have to go back to the drawing board in terms of their tactical approach, but as long as Bellingham is there they will always have a chance to win.

Unmissable moment

Few things will be as universally celebrated as Christian Eriksen’s return to the Euros, exchanging the previous memory of his cardiac arrest on the field for the feelings of joy that scoring goals inspires. The fact that Eriksen can play again, and do so at a high level for club and country, will never go unnoticed by the player himself, as well as his many supporters in recent years.

Monday schedule

All Eastern times

All games are available on Fubo (Try it for free).

• Romania x Ukraine, 9am on Vix (preview)
• Belgium x Slovakia, 12pm on FS1 (preview)
• Austria x France, 3pm on Fox (preview)

What happened on Saturday?

Ten goals were scored in three games on Saturday, when the oddsmakers’ favorites won their matches in style. Switzerland achieved their first victory of the day by beating Hungary 3-1, while Spain defeated Croatia 3-0 in one of the most anticipated games of the group stage. The biggest surprise of the day, however, came when Albania scored just 23 seconds into the game against Italy. The advantage was short-lived: Italy equalized 10 minutes later through Alessandro Bastoni and, in the 16th minute, Nicolo Barrella scored the final goal of the game, giving the current champions a 2-1 victory.

More Euro 2024 reading