Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick in injury time saved Gareth Southgate’s England from a humiliating round of 16 exit as the Euro 2024 hopefuls eventually beat Slovakia 2-1 in extra time.
A summer that promised so much seemed to end in bitter disappointment and humiliation for a team that missed out on victory in the last edition three years ago by just a penalty shootout.
Ivan Schranz put a wily and well-coached Slovakia on course for their greatest victory as an independent nation, but Bellingham left mouths open and players on the bench in disbelief in Gelsenkirchen.
The Real Madrid midfielder’s overhead kick five minutes into stoppage time sent the game into extra time and a header from captain Harry Kane took Southgate’s team through a difficult last-16 tie.
Face Switzerland in Saturday’s quarter-finals and England will be looking to build on the spirit they showed towards the end of a game that threatened to end in a result similar to the debacle in Iceland at Euro 2016.
Southgate has made huge improvements since taking charge shortly after that tournament eight years ago, but the pressure and scrutiny will be as great as ever after reaching the quarter-finals and playing his 100th game as manager.
