Gelsenkirchen, June 30: England came back from a goal down to beat Slovakia 2-1 in extra time of the Euro 2024 round of 16 clash at the Arena AufSchalke on Sunday.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham scored the equaliser in the last minute of added time with a spectacular bicycle kick in the middle of the box, to force extra time.
Captain Harry Kane scored the winner in the first minute of extra time with a free header, after a mishit shot from Eberechi Eze was headed into the middle of the goal by Ivan Toney.
Earlier, Kane became the English player with the most competitive appearances for the national after starting in its Euro 2024 round of 16 clash against Slovakia beating the record held by Peter Shilton.
Slovakia took the lead in the 25th minute after Schranz scored his third goal of the Euro 2024, becoming the joint-highest top scorer of the tournament with Jamal Musiala and Geroges Mikautadze.
At the other end, England failed to record a shot on target in the first half of a knockout stage game at a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal versus Argentina.
Four minutes into the second half, Phil Foden thought that he had equalised for the runner-up of the previous edition when he directed the ball into an empty net after an assist from Kieran Trippier. However, VAR checks ruled the goal out for offside after confirming that Foden was not behind the ball when Trippier passed it to him.
Earlier, in the match, Gareth Southgate’s side was heading for an early exit and a deep inquest after a lacklustre performance that saw it go behind after 25 minutes and not register a single shot on target until 95 minutes.
However, it was all due to Bellingham’s acrobatic effort with seconds remaining gave England a precious lifeline, and their second shot on target came seconds into extra time when substitute Eberechi Eze’s attempt found fellow replacement Ivan Toney, whose looped effort fell to Kane.
England will face Switzerland in the quarterfinal next Saturday.
England’s dramatic turnaround against Slovakia at the Euro 2024 round of 16 clash not only showcased their resilience but also highlighted the team’s ability to seize crucial moments.
Jude Bellingham’s stunning bicycle kick in added time salvaged their hopes, while captain Harry Kane’s decisive header early in extra time secured their progression.
Despite early setbacks, including a VAR-disallowed goal, England’s persistence ultimately paid off, setting the stage for a thrilling quarterfinal clash against Switzerland. Gareth Southgate’s side now looks to build on this hard-fought victory as they continue their quest for European glory. (Agencies)
