The Netherlands defeated Poland 2-1 to begin their Euro 2024 tournament campaign, and Nathan Ake had two assists in that victory.

Ake started at left back in Ronald Koeman’s 4-2-3-1 formation in a free-flowing, exciting match in Hamburg, providing crucial support down the left flank the entire time.

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However, Poland’s goal in minute sixteen would be the first to overcome the Dutch defence.

Piotr Zielinski’s corner was met with room and time by Adam Buksa, who scored the goal. Meanwhile, Ake was positioned zonally, preventing him and his teammates from attacking the play.

However, the Dutch responded after 29 minutes, and Ake was a key player.

After a careless clearance, Ake managed to intercept the ball and pass it to Cody Gapko of Liverpool, who levelled the score with a deflected shot that beat the keeper from 20 yards.

The City favourite earned his 46th cap with a performance that was characteristically composed and confident from beginning to end.

Both teams had more opportunities to score, and it appeared as though the match would end in a draw until Ake once more set up the decisive goal.

This time, the City defender made a deft short pass into the Polish box, and Burnley’s Wout Weghorst scored from close range to score his 12th goal for the Netherlands. It was Weghorst’s first touch since he entered the game as a substitute two minutes earlier.

The Dutch held out for a 2-1 victory until the 87th minute, when Micky van de Ven of Tottenham came on to replace Ake.

In the meantime, England defeated Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen to open their EURO 2024 Group C campaign. Phil Foden, John Stones, and Kyle Walker all got off to starts.

Manager Gareth Southgate trusted vice-captain Walker, Stones, and Foden as the Three Lions looked to get off to a strong start at the Schalke Arena. All three players more than fulfilled their expectations, playing the full 90 minutes.

When Serbia actively played close to the Man City star, Foden did not exhibit much.

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Indeed, it was Walker who helped set up England’s match winner, headed home by Bellingham on 13 minutes.

The City right back threaded a perfectly weighted pass for Bukayo Sako to latch onto as the winger raced into the right-wing overlap.

The Arsenal man delivered an inviting, teasing ball into the heart of the Serbian box and Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham needed no second invitation to head home from the six-yard box.

However, a confident, fluid start from England was almost undone on 21 minutes. A mistake from Trent Alexander-Arnold saw Serbia find skipper Aleksandar Mitrovic who whistled a power 20-yard shot inches wide.

Within three minutes Walker almost set up a second England goal. Alexander-Arnold put the City right back into space on the right overlap and after powering into the box, his fired in an inviting ball across the face of goal but it evaded all his colleagues.

The Serbs started the second half in much assertive manner pushing England back and dominating possession.

And shortly before the hour, England keeper Jordan Pickford needed to be alert to shut the door on Mitrovic after Serbia substitute Mladenovic evaded John Stones before substitute Dusan Tadic was an ace away from putting in fellow replacement Luka Jovic.

England though were within an ace of doubling their advantage on 77 minutes when Harry Kane hit the bar.

A minute after coming on as a substitute Jarrod Bowen pinged in a pinpoint cross from the right flank and Kane rose at the back post to meet the ball only for Serbia keeper Predrag Rajkovic to palm the effort onto the woodwork.

With Denmark and Slovenia having drawn 1-1 in the opening Group C game earlier on Sunday, it means England are top of the table with three points.