USA in 1950. Norway 1981. Iceland in 2016.
The 99th game of Gareth Southgate’s England era so nearly ended in a new low against Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024.
Jude Bellingham’s sublime over-head kick in the dying seconds spared England’s blushes, sending the game to extra-time after Ivan Schranz strolled through a fractured England defence to prod past Jordan Pickford after 25 minutes.
🤸😲#EURO2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/SyFiluFTk4
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 30, 2024
In truth Slovakia might well have won by more while England looked like bowing out without a whimper until Bellingham struck with England’s first shot on target of the match.
The celebrations had barely died down before England were ahead 54 seconds into extra-time when Harry Kane nodded home after subs Eberechi Eze and Ivan Toney combined to tee him up.
England negotiated the remainder of extra-time without alarm and will face Switzerland in the quarter-final on Saturday (5pm BST).
Slow start for Southgate’s side
Southgate opted to make just one change from the goalless draw with Slovenia, bringing in Kobbie Mainoo for Conor Gallagher in midfield.
Marc Guehi picked up a costly booking inside three minutes – which will keep him out of Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland – after being sold short by a pass by Kieran Tripper and having to bring down David Strelec.
The first opportunity fell to the Slovaks as David Hancko was played in down the left of the area on the break only to side-foot across Pickford’s goal and inches past the far post.
Mainoo followed Guehi into the book just six minutes in after a foul on Ondrej Duda before Tripper lashed over the bar from Bellingham’s pass across the face of the area.
Kyle Walker was caught out of possession allowing Lukas Haraslin a clear run through down the left, only to be denied by a last-ditch block from the sliding Guehi.
Juraj Kucka was cautioned on 13 minutes for bringing down Trippier and…
Source link : https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/euro-2024-england-2-1-slovakia/
Author : Alex Hoad
Publish date : 2024-06-30 18:38:09
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