Paul Scholes gives damning verdict on England's win over Serbia and says Gareth Southgate's young side missed Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish

England beat Serbia 1-0 but Paul Scholes was disappointed by their performance Scholes thinks Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish would have made a difference Click here to follow Mail Sport's Euro 2024 WhatsApp Channel for all the latest breaking news and updates from Germany 

Paul Scholes was not impressed by England's 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening game of Euro 2024.

The Three Lions got off to a winning start in Group C thanks to a 13th-minute header from 20-year-old Jude Bellingham following a fine cross by Bukayo Saka.

But Gareth Southgate's side struggled to control the game for large periods and spent much of the second half defending deep inside their own half.

Southgate made three substitutions in Gelsenkirchen as he brought on Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and then Kobbie Mainoo.

But Scholes believes that Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish - two players who Southgate opted against naming in his final Euro 2024 squad - would have been much better options off the bench.

Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal as England beat Serbia 1-0 in their Euro 2024 opener

But Paul Scholes (pictured) was not impressed by what he saw from Gareth Southgate's team

Euro 2024 is the fourth major tournament in which Southgate (pictured) has managed England

Southgate also left Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling out of his 26-man squad, having taken the trio to the last three major tournaments - where England reached the semi-finals (2018 World Cup), final (Euro 2020) and then quarter-finals (2022 World Cup).

Scholes - who won 66 senior England caps as a player between 1997 and 2004 - fears that Southgate's decision to drop so many experienced players may have halted some of the team's momentum.

Sharing his thoughts via his Instagram story on Monday, Scholes wrote: 'Taking a bit of stick after last night, can't help but feel the hard work from previous tournaments has been wasted.

'Some brilliantly talented young players but it feels like more of a U21 squad than a senior one.

'Rashford or Grealish coming on for 20/30 minutes at the end brings speed or ball retention, don't think we had either.

'Anyway, fingers crossed they improve and win it.'

Marcus Rashford (left) and Jack Grealish (centre) both featured in the final of Euro 2020

Scholes, pictured at Euro 2000, won 66 senior England caps during his playing career

England will next be in action on Thursday night when they take on Denmark, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia on Sunday.

Southgate's young side will then face Slovenia in their final group game on June 25.