England’s Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice have a good time after the match.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
England escaped an embarrassing last-16 exit at Euro 2024 due to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick earlier than Harry Kane struck in extra-time to seize a 2-1 win over Slovakia on Sunday.
The Three Lions have been hyped as one of many favourites as they bid to finish a 58-year await main match glory however seemed set to exit with a whimper to Ivan Schranz’s twenty fifth minute purpose.
Nonetheless, Bellingham’s second of inspiration 5 minutes into six added on in stoppage time breathed new life into Gareth Southgate’s reign as England boss.
Kane then headed in only a minute into extra-time to arrange a quarter-final assembly with Switzerland on Saturday.
“That is the will and the perspective from the boys. It seemed powerful for a second there however you retain going,” mentioned Kane. “Jude does what Jude does and what an unbelievable purpose.”
Southgate seemed set to fall on his sword after steadfastly refusing to make modifications to a facet that stumbled by as winners of Group C regardless of scoring simply two objectives in three video games.
Kobbie Mainoo was launched for his first aggressive begin in Southgate’s solely change and he paid the value with one other lacklustre show missing in any pace or invention for lengthy spells.
“We wish to be higher,” mentioned Southgate. “I am not going to cover from that however the spirit and character was there for everyone to see and we’re nonetheless in there preventing.”
The one saving grace of England’s performances within the group stage was {that a} makeshift defence had held up effectively, conceding simply as soon as in three video games.
Nonetheless, they had been torn to items early on by a Slovakia facet ranked forty fifth on the earth.
England didn’t heed a few warnings as David Hancko and Lukas Haraslin had been wasteful with massive possibilities.
Slovakia lastly punished their extra illustrious opponents when David Strelec was given acres of room to show and play in Schranz, who confidently stroked previous Jordan Pickford for his third purpose of the match.
The half-time whistle was met with a refrain of boos however Southgate nonetheless caught to his weapons and didn’t make a change till 25 minutes to go.
England did no less than enhance on a dismal first half and had the ball within the internet inside 5 minutes of the restart.
Phil Foden turned in Kieran Trippier’s cross however was caught offside after a VAR evaluation.
– Kane seals victory –
Slovakia ought to have doubled their lead shortly afterwards when England gave away possession and Strelec noticed Pickford effectively off his line however did not hit the goal from the midway line.
Southgate’s hand was lastly compelled on 66 minutes by an harm to Trippier.
However England nonetheless struggled to create and seemed down and out when Kane headed extensive a golden alternative and Declan Rice smashed the submit with a long-range pot shot.
Southgate was even derided by the England help for bringing on Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time with chants of “you do not know what you are doing.”
Nonetheless, there was an unimaginable twist as Bellingham acrobatically turned dwelling Guehi’s flick-on from a throw-in the ultimate moments of added-on time.
“It is a feeling that’s like no different,” mentioned Bellingham.
“You are 30 seconds from going dwelling and having to hearken to all of the garbage and feeling such as you’ve let a nation of individuals down. In 30 seconds or one kick of the ball every thing can change.”
Slovakia had been instantly rattled and Toney was to have a telling contribution.
The Brentford striker headed Eberechi Eze’s mishit shot again throughout purpose for Kane to energy dwelling his second purpose of the match.
Slovakia ought to nonetheless have taken the sport to penalties when full-back Peter Pekarik failed to show in a harmful pushed cross from point-blank vary.
However England reside to struggle one other day come the quarter-final towards a formidable Switzerland, who comfortably knocked out holders Italy 2-0 on Saturday.
