England stage dramatic comeback to reach Euro 2024 quarter-finals
England will play Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after battling back from the brink to beat Slovakia 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen.
The Three Lions looked to be heading for a humbling exit after a timid performance brought back painful memories of the Euro 2016 exit to Iceland.
Ivan Schranz seized on poor communication from John Stones and Marc Guehi to hand Slovakia the lead, collecting David Strelec’s perfectly weighted pass to steer the ball past Jordan Pickford from close range.
Heading into the fifth minute of seven added-on, England had failed to register a shot on target in the entire game. They looked bereft of ideas and energy – issues that plagued Gareth Southgate’s side during the group stage – and not even the introduction of Cole Palmer could spark any life into the performance.
But a long throw was flicked on at the near post by Guehi before Jude Bellingham, as he’s done so often for Real Madrid during his first year at the Santiago Bernabeu, took centre stage to fire an acrobatic overhead kick into Dubravka’s bottom corner, taking the game into extra time.
Southgate had thrown Ivan Toney on in the dying embers to replace Phil Foden, who had a goal chalked off for offside, and he played a crucial role in England scoring just 196 seconds after Bellingham’s equaliser had hit the back of the net.
Palmer’s free-kick was fisted away by Dubravka before being skewed back into the box by another England substitute, Eberechi Eze. His effort, drifting harmlessly wide of the goal, was headed back into dangerous territory by Toney, and the unmarked Harry Kane pounced to head home from six yards out.
It sparked scenes of pandemonium in the stands, with England’s beleaguered support likely unable to comprehend the comeback after watching a turgid, lifeless performance for the previous hour and a half.
Southgate had opted to make just one change from the side that drew 0-0 with Slovenia in England’s third and final Group C game, drafting Kobbie Mainoo into the team at the expense of Conor Gallagher, but the Manchester United midfielder’s energy and industry failed to find the spark so badly needed.
Calls to start Palmer and Anthony Gordon were resisted, though the former was the first player turned to once Southgate decided to make a change just past the hour-mark.
Gallagher and Ezri Konsa came on in the second period of extra time, helping England to see out victory over a Slovakia side who came so desperately close to reaching the last eight at the European Championships for the first time in their history.