- England gained the spherical of 16 at EURO 2024 in opposition to Slovakia 2-1 nV and met Switzerland within the quarter finals.
- Jude Bellingham saves the “Three Lions” who’ve been out of concepts for a very long time with a kick within the prime aim within the ninety fifth minute in further time.
- Harry Kane scored the profitable aim early on with a header.
24 hours after reaching the quarter-finals, the nationwide group know their opponent there: Switzerland will face England in Düsseldorf on Saturday. Till deep into further time it regarded as if Nati’s opponents had been Slovakia. And doubtless the primary Slovakian followers had already popped the cork. However then got here the equalizer in Gelsenkirchen.
Marc Guéhi prolonged a protracted throw-in from Kyle Walker to the penalty spot, the place Jude Bellingham was in the appropriate place (ninety fifth minute). However the Actual star in some way did not rating to make it 1-1. His superb overhead kick will in all probability discover shelter in a evaluate or two on the European Championships.
The extension, not thought attainable, out of the blue grew to become a actuality. And the momentum was now clearly on the English facet, as grew to become obvious shortly after the additional half hour had began.
Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka was in a position to clear Cole Palmer’s free-kick, however solely Eberechi Eze, whose failed shot by Ivan Toney prolonged previous Harry Kane. All he needed to do was nod from a brief distance.
The Slovaks didn’t quit and had a number of promising runs in opposition to the lowly English, however an excessive amount of (an excessive amount of) power proved pricey in common time.
There’s a lack of sunshine in England
The final 16 is extraordinarily bittersweet for the Slovaks. Within the first half, the underdog absolutely accepted his position as an outsider, stood carefully on the again and waited for his probability. They bought one within the twenty fifth minute when Denis Vavro performed a protracted ball from defence. The ball reached David Strelec by Juraj Kucka, who cleverly delayed it and eventually despatched Ivan Schranz on the appropriate. The Slavia Prague striker saved his nerve in entrance of Jordan Pickford and poked the ball into the aim with the surface of his foot to make it 1-0.
A chilly bathe for the English, but it surely appears not chilly sufficient to evoke Gareth Southgate’s group from lethargy. As within the group stage, the “Three Lions” lacked concepts and creativity.
Solely after the break had been England in a position to improve the stress, the Slovaks had been now slightly deeper. And Phil Foden equalized. Nonetheless, solely supposedly. The Metropolis striker was offside when Kieran Trippier crossed.
Slovaks with a aim virtually a dream
A wierd scene but in addition symbolic of the odd efficiency of the English occurred shortly afterwards. Bellingham took a brief free kick on the midway line. As John Stones was apparently quick asleep, Strelec grabbed the ball and made his luck with a shot from the middle circle. Pickford, who was standing far ahead, would have struck, however the ball rolled previous the appropriate publish.
It’s decided by a person class
Ultimately, a number of good minutes had been sufficient for the English to show the sport of their favor. The decisive issue was additionally the person class of Bellingham or Kane, who was on the scene for the profitable aim in goalkeeping fashion.
If England are to maintain a clear sheet in opposition to Switzerland within the finals, they should enhance on Saturday.