England went from embarrassment to excitement with two excellent moments in a 2-1 comeback win over Slovakia in the Round of 16 at EURO 2024 in Germany on Sunday.
[ MORE: EURO 2024 schedule, bracket ]
Trailing on a first-half Ivan Schranz goal, the Three Lions had a Phil Foden goal ruled offside by VAR and couldn’t find much of anything in the Slovakia box heading into stoppage time.
Jude Bellingham then went airborne for an overhead kick goal in the fifth-minute of stoppage time, and Harry Kane scored in the first minute of extra time as England avoided an early exit and now live three wins from being crowned European champions for the first time in the history of the competition.
Ivan Toney and Marc Guehi assisted England’s goals. Bellingham and Kane have scored twice each at EURO 2024. No other England player has scored.
Three Lions big names rescue EURO hopes
England took three yellow cards early and at times it looked as if no one besides Kobbie Mainoo was up for the occasion.
And it wasn’t until the last 15 minutes of regulation — 30 if we’re being very kind — that the Three Lions looked like a real threat to turn around the score line.
Jude Bellingham had been swarmed most of the game and did not deal well with the pressure. Harry Kane was active but inaccurate.
But come the moments, come the men, and Bellingham’s overhead kick goal showed why he’s one of the most celebrated clutch footballers in the world. Kane, too, bears that distinction and followed the ball moments into extra time to nod home and give England its first lead of the game and first two-goal game of the tournament.
That felt like it for Slovakia, and it was. England will feel new life and a whole nation temptation that it could be coming home. Will it? Let’s see what Gareth Southgate does to his XI against thriving Switzerland.
Harry Kane praises Jude Bellingham
‘One of the best in our country’s history I reckon,” Kane said. “What a player he is, he works so hard for the team. There’s been a lot of talk about him the last couple days but he shows what he can do. In the big moments, he steps up. We need everyone to step up in moments and he’s done that today.”
England vs Slovakia player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Our friends at fotmob like the day of most of England’s players, who had the ball for almost 75% of regulation. But that doesn’t change that the Three Lions put two shots on target over 120 minutes. Newcastle United keeper registered 13 recoveries but not a single proper save as England scored through an overhead kick and an open header.
England vs Slovakia player ratings (via fotmob.com)
England vs Slovakia player ratings (via fotmob.com)
What’s next? Next England game at EURO 2024
The Three Lions will face Switzerland on Saturday in Dusseldorf. A win would see them meet either Austria, Turkey, Romania, or the Netherlands in the semifinal round on July 10 in Dortmund.
How to watch England vs Slovakia, stream link and start time
Kick off: Sunday (June 30), 12pm ET
Stadium: Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
How to watch on TV in USA: Fox Sports
England vs Slovakia final score: 2-1
Goalscorers: Schranz (25'), Bellingham (90'+5), Kane (91')
England vs Slovakia live updates! - By Nick Mendola
Harry Kane starts extra time in style! England 2-1 Slovakia (92nd minute)
It took less than a minute of extra time for England to take the lead.
Eberechi Eze’s grounded shot is head back across goal by Ivan Toney, and Kane races to the back post to thump it home.
HARRY KANE IN EXTRA TIME 🔥
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2024
AN ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE TURNAROUND FOR ENGLAND pic.twitter.com/bZbnS9fLyF
Incredible Jude Bellingham goal! England 1-1 Slovakia (90+5 minute)
Out of nothing! Bellingham, who has been poor for most of the night, scores a spectacular equalizer.
A throw-in is redirected by Ivan Toney and Bellingham goes airborne to smash an overhead kick past Martin Dubravka.
We’re going to extra time!
Jude Bellingham 95th minute bicycle… the legend grows… just incredible. WOW pic.twitter.com/OviINZ35ID
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) June 30, 2024
So close!
Declan Rice hits the post with a terrific shot from outside the 18, and Harry Kane has an acrobatic bid to put the rebound home.
The degree of difficulty is so high, and the ball makes its way over the cross bar.
Eberechi Eze will replace the excellent Mainoo. Can England rescue its EURO down 1-0 in the 83rd minute?
England possessing, seeking answers with quarter-hour to go
If Slovakia were a bit ambitious with the 1-0 lead, they have let that go as the second half has moved toward the closing stages.
England will find it tricky to score but if they can find an equalizer? That might be too much for Slovakia to switch gears.
All that said, the equalizer does not feel particularly imminent.
Kieran Trippier injured
Kieran Trippier takes an ugly knock and needs treatment on the pitch.
England for a moment play with 10, but Gareth Southgate will not make his first sub.
Cole Palmer takes his spot and it looks like England will go to a back three.
Mainoo wins free kick
Kobbie Mainoo drives toward the box and is fouled a few yards before the chalk.
Kieran Trippier and Phil Foden preside while England camp two players next to the five-man wall.
Foden cranks it into the wall. The game is now into the final 30 minutes.
Goal, but did Foden stay onside? No!
Phil Foden was waiting for a tap-in to equalize, but it’s coming off the board.
Foden was ahead of the ball when he popped Kieran Trippier’s feed from close range into the goal.
Still 1-0 to Slovakia. Promising moment, and Harry Kane soon has a shot deflected out for a corner.
Halftime — England 0-1 Slovakia
You can say you’re surprised, but you cannot say it wasn’t earned by Slovakia.
Schranz’s goal was a good one, and England is getting West Hammed by the Slovakian side.
England have 77% possession but just 0.25 xG and two more shot attempts than the leaders’ six. Remarkably, the only England player to have been clear cut solid is the new starter, Kobbie Mainoo.
Slovakia are on 0.95 xG and could easily have scored twice.
There are five players on yellow between the two sides: England’s Marc Guehi, Jude Bellingham, and Kobbie Mainoo, plus Slovakia’s Juraj Kucka and Milan Skiriniar.
Ivan Schranz Goal (video)! England 0-1 Slovakia (25th minute)
It had been all England for a few minutes, but that matters little after pretty play from the underdogs.
David Strelec’s clever pass gets Ivan Schranz 1v1 with Pickford, and he beats him!
Slovakia lead 1-0 😬😬😬 what a finish pic.twitter.com/ECf5uhZGYb
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) June 30, 2024
Slovakia keep scrapping
A dangerous free kick for Slovakia after Trippier and Guehi combine to clean up a mess at the back.
England deal with the danger and Slovakia take a yellow card as Juraj Kucka tactically breaks up the counterattack.
Bounce betrays Three Lions
Kobbie Mainoo picks out Kieran Trippier’s rampaging run into the box with an incisive long, low pass.
But it bounces just before Trippier hit it and the ball is into orbit well into the stands.
0-0, 10'.
Slovakia go close!
Sparta Prague’s Lukas Haraslin saves the ball off the sideline with a great touch or two, then drives play before laying off for David Hancko.
His shot is dragged just wide of the far post after beating Jordan Pickford.
England have also picked up two yellow cards in the first six minutes: Marc Guehi and Kobbie Mainoo.
Not a good start who a team who would’ve loved some early good vibes.
Pickford starts despite apparent injury
We’re underway, and jordan Pickford has overcome an apparent injury in warm-ups.
Pickford was spotted in visible distress, shaking his left hand in pain on multiple occasions.
He’s out there, and Slovakia is pressing deep, early.
England lineup
Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Guehi, Walker, Rice, Mainoo, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane
Slovakia lineup
Dubravka, Hancko, Skriniar, Vavro, Pekarik, Duda, Lobotka, Kucka, Haraslin, Schranz, Strelec
England team news, focus
Look, England are one of the favorites to win it all and given the side of the bracket they’ve landed on they have a great opportunity to get all the way to the final. But they have to improve, fast, if they’re going to finally win a major trophy. Expectations are so high after recent performances in major tournaments and England’s fans are taking their frustrations out on Southgate and several of their star attackers who have yet to get going in Germany. Gordon, Mainoo and Palmer are all pushing for starts and it will be very intriguing to see what Southgate does as superstars Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and even Harry Kane just haven’t looked 100 percent. England look so disjointed when they have the ball in midfield and the final third and they have to find inspiration from somewhere to turn their tournament around.
Slovakia team news, focus
Stanislav Lobotka has been the star player for Slovakia, with his tireless displays in midfield epitomizing their tournament so far. The Napoli star has run the show and does the simple things so well and he will be looking to nullify the threat of Foden, Saka, Bellingham and Co. The battle between Kane and Skriniar should be epic, while Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is very familiar with this England side.
England vs Slovakia prediction
It probably won’t be pretty but England will get the job done. Just. Expect Kane to score and set the tone and the Three Lions will have to be patient but will probably wrap things up late in the second half. England 2-0 Slovakia.
