The 1-0 win over Serbia saw Jordan Pickford equal Peter Shilton’s long-standing England record at Euro 2024.
Jude Bellingham’s goal got the Three Lions off to a perfect start at the European Championships though it was a far from perfect performance.
England dominated the first-half but created few clear-cut chances throughout the game, but a spirited Serbia side were brilliant after the break.
They took control of the match off Southgate’s side but also struggled to generate meaningful opportunities, with just six shots and one on target.
They came closest when Dusan Vlahovic thumped an effort out of nowhere from the edge of the box, forcing keeper Pickford into a brilliant save, tipping the ball just over the crossbar.
The Everton shot-stopper has been England’s No.1 for six years, a run that started just before the 2018 World Cup and is now arguably one of his country’s greatest ever goalies.
That status was solidified at the full-time whistle against Serbia, with this the 30-year-old’s 10th clean sheet at either a Euros or World Cup.
That equals the record for the most lock-outs for an England keeper at major tournaments, a record that he now jointly-holds with the legendary Peter Shilton.
Shilton is England’s most-capped player of all time with 120, and competed at five major tournaments from 1980 to 1990.
Informed of his record, Pickford said on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘A great achievement personally, but I will never take plaudits myself.
‘I have a full 11 that help me and I am just there when the lads need me.
‘To be up there with Peter Shilton is a great privilege.’
Pickford can claim the record for himself when England take on Denmark on Thursday evening.
‘They are a strong team. We had to suffer a bit which I think is really good for us,’ Southgate told the BBC post-match.
‘I think to defend the box the way we did was really good for us. I was really pleased with a lot of the play. Second half we didn’t keep it as well as I would have liked but to get the win is very important.’
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