Jude Bellingham's remarkable performance kept England in Euro 2024 as they survived a challenging match to beat Slovakia dramatically and advance to the last eight.
Bellingham scored an incredible bicycle kick in the 95th minute, tying the game against Slovakia in the Round of 16. Shortly after, Harry Kane secured the game-winner, leading England to a 2-1 comeback victory and into the quarterfinals.
Slovakia took the lead in the 25th minute with a goal by Ivan Schranz and defended robustly for the next 70 minutes. Bellingham's extraordinary strike in the fifth minute of added time marked England's first shot on target for the entire game.
Kane then gave England the lead with his second goal of Euro 2024, officially scored in the 91st minute.
Bellingham's pivotal goal revived what had been a lackluster tournament for the 21-year-old. Positioned in the No. 10 role in England's 4-2-3-1 formation, Bellingham had struggled to make an impact in the first three games. However, his goal highlighted his significance as one of the top midfielders and a key player for England.
England manager Gareth Southgate substituted both Bellingham and Kane for defensive players in the final 15 minutes of extra time. This cautious approach allowed Slovakia to apply pressure, but England's defense held firm, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with Switzerland.
England's Struggle to Break Down Slovakia
After Schranz's goal, Slovakia anticipated England's control of the ball and their attempt to crowd the goal. In response, Slovakia established two defensive lines around the penalty box, challenging England to find a way through.
England believed they had equalized in the 50th minute, but Phil Foden's goal was correctly overruled for offside. Foden was ahead of the last defender when he was wide open in front of the net. Although England initially celebrated, a replay review confirmed Foden was offside.
Until Bellingham's crucial goal, it seemed Euro 2024 would add to England's history of high-profile failures since their last major trophy in the 1966 World Cup.
Entering Euro 2024 as pre-tournament favorites, England underperformed in the group stage, earning five points and scoring two goals in three matches.
However, their five points were enough to win Group D, placing them on a favorable side of the knockout bracket, avoiding Spain, Germany, France, and Portugal.
Sunday's win against a less-talented Slovakia team was more of an escape than a demonstration of England's capability to win Euro 2024. Yet, in a single-elimination tournament, sometimes eking out a win is all that matters. Thanks to individual brilliance, England managed to advance.
