England advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship after Jude Bellingham scored a stunning overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to spark a comeback 2-1 win after extra time against Slovakia on Sunday.
Bellingham's acrobatic overhead kick leveled the round-of-16 game at 1-1 with seconds remaining at the Veltins Arena.
Harry Kane headed in the winner in the first minute of extra time as England avoided one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Euros.
Ivan Schranz scored in the first half for Slovakia and his goal looked like being enough to eliminate England, which was one of the pre-tournament favorites and runner up at the last Euros.
But Bellingham's wonder goal sent the game to extra time and Kane sealed the win and a place in the quarterfinals where England will play Switzerland in Duesseldorf.
For so long it looked like being one of the most humbling defeats England had ever suffered — bringing back memories of its elimination at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016.
Boos rang around the stadium in the first half as frustration grew among fans after Slovakia took the lead through Schranz’s goal in the 25th minute.
England - ranked fifth - dominated the second half in search of an equalizer and hit the post through Declan Rice’s long range effort late on. Phil Foden had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR and Kane missed a golden opportunity when heading wide from close range.
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21 Comments
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Spitfire
We won 6 knockout games from 1968-2016.
We've won 7 since Southgate took over in 2018.
Still want him to go though.
Fighto!
Hats off to the Three Lions, they have well and truly launched their campaign now.
Excitement machine Jude Bellingham and talisman Harry Kane were outstanding. England very relieved it didnt go to penalties! The Lions should take care of the Swiss in the QF - and fully deserve outright favouritism.
wallace
I didn't watch the match. Poor England performance by all accounts. The scorelines are what counts in the end.
rcch
The toothless lions advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship. Just another embarrassing night for England. Slovakia… hahahahah.
Fighto!Today 07:27 am JST “ Hats off to the Three Lions, they have well and truly launched their campaign now. The Lions should take care of the Swiss in the QF - and fully deserve outright favouritism. “
What the…! Lmao.
itsonlyrocknroll
Many England supports are reported to have left the stadium for the airport before the ninety minutes were up, incredulous, forgetting "It ain't over till the fat lady sings"
I watched the match, from 1am, for a long time in various stages of doom and gloom.
A comeback that couldn't be make up
Norm
Glad to see Englad advancing.
Do know where you are? You ok?
itsonlyrocknroll
Norm, I think so, although I would not ask for a vote on it
Jimizo
Slovakia are a decent side.
There are better sides than Slovakia in this tournament though. Look at the next game.
Play like that against Switzerland and they’ll probably be going home.
Seigi
I really hope that England finally wins this one! It's time to bring it home!
carpslidy
England a country of 70 million needed a 95 minute goal (their first shot on target) to beat Slovakia a country of 5 millilon who finished third in their group
England were terrible again
Jimizo
England isn’t 70 million.
Anyway, it has a much larger population than Slovakia.
You are right about them being poor though. A top manager might get something better out of them.
Still, they are in the quarters.
Moonraker
Portugal had 3 draws in their group in 2016 and came third in the group barely climbing into the knockout rounds, scraped through their first two knockout games (aet, one with pens) yet went on the win the tournament. Italy drew their three games in their group in the world cup in 1982 and looked rubbish but went on to win the tournament.
carpslidy
Moonraker
And in every other tournament the best team wins
England had 2 shots on target in 120 minutes
They got lucky that's all
Maybe they'll be lucky three more but there was nothing in that performance to indicate they can beat Spain Germany or Portugal
Jimizo
I wouldn’t agree with that.
Just looking at the last Euros, Spain played Italy off the pitch in the semis but got knocked out on pens.
Tournament football in the knockout stages.
Nothing in that performance to suggest they can beat Switzerland but they might.
Tournament football in the knockout stages.
Moonraker
Maybe they do. But I doubt it.
Maybe they did. People do. It's probably more of an influence on our achievements than we care to admit. It's also totally irrelevant to my comment though, unless you assume the history was more than just a piece of information; that it was somehow encouragement for or justification of England. Nah, I couldn't really give a damn who wins. Well, I always hope it is the best team though. I am still fuming over Italy in 82 because Brazil were sublime. The dream of football probably ended there. The joy was over.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are doing justice to their Number 9 and Number 10 duties. Rice keeps growing on the German football fields. Wishing the three Lions roaring times ahead.
kohakuebisu
I think the best word for England is "unconvincing". Maybe the best thing to do in Japan is just go to bed and celebrate the result in the morning without having to sit through 120 minutes of very turgid football.
This is undeniably true. Even in 1990, a now legendary England were outplayed by Belgium but won with that David Platt worldie volley. They were also outplayed by Cameroon but Gary Linekar got two penalties from what looked 1990-level diving. They outplayed Germany, but lost on penalties.
carpslidy
Sorry, I'll rephrase generally one of the better teams wins.
Portugal had Ronaldo and an excellent defense
Italy likewise had an amazing defense
England have shown none of these qualities
Maybe Bellinngham is the new Ronaldo and he'll win it by himself
But England have played terribly against weak opposition to date and there is nothing indicating they are going to suddenly turn it around
nandakandamanda
All credit to Slovakia. For most of the game they looked good compared to England.
njca4
Our manager is so risk-averse, and now that is rubbing off on the players - too focused on what the opposition is going to do, so it's all reactive play. Not much creating going on
Fighto!
Dr.Catejan Coelho -
I see what you did there!
An absolute zinger from the Good Doctor!