Who’d be an England fan, eh? It’s not a task for the fainthearted. At 19:53, England were two minutes away from crashing out of Euro 2024 in a similar fashion to Euro 2016.
Vocabulary such as abysmal, uninspiring and spiritless were ready to come out to play, and for large portions of the affair England were exactly that.
However, the remarkable moments that followed saw Gareth Southgate’s side snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane both found the back of the net within five minutes of each other to cause the comeback of all comebacks, having fell behind to a first-half strike from Slavia Prague’s Ivan Schranz.
England made just one change from their stalemate with Slovenia as Gareth Southgate attempted to strike a balance in midfield. Kobbie Mainoo was awarded his first competitive start after impressing in Cologne on Tuesday while Conor Gallagher dropped to the bench.
Francesco Calzona didn’t tinker with his eleven who were held by Romania in their final group game, which meant there was only room for Robert Bozenik on the Slovakian bench.
Within three minutes Marc Guehi had written off a potential appearance in a European Championship quarter-final receiving his second yellow card of the tournament. An under hit pass from Kieran Trippier forced Guehi to bring David Strelec down.
Things went from bad to worse for England as Slovakia went close in the 5th minute. Walker was caught out at right-back and Lukas Haraslin managed to make use of the space and burst down the line. The winger slotted David Hancko in whose cross-turned-shot edged wide of the post – to the nation’s relief.
Going forwards England looked okay. Their faults were coming at the back – something that hadn’t been seen from Gareth Southgate’s side this tournament.
Their improvement going forwards was highlighted when Jude Bellingham showcased his fantastic passing ability playing a wonderful ball along the floor from just inside the Slovakia half. It threaded through beautifully to Kieran Trippier on the edge of the box, who blasted an embarrassing effort over the bar.
Yet, Trippier’s appalling effort seemed to signify the end of England’s attacking intent and old habits returned. Things became a bit desperate for England, especially in the 12th minute when Marc Guehi’s phenomenal block denied Slovakia a certain opener.
Surprisingly, Slovakia were targeting England down the right-flank, as astonishing as it seems it was proving an effective tactic with Walker constantly getting caught out with balls in behind.
In what wasn’t Walker’s finest 20 minutes in an England shirt his short range passing became untidy as The Three Lions continued to cause their own issues.
However, it felt like England were starting to build in the 22nd minute. There was a halfhearted appeal for a penalty. Followed by Harry Kane going close. From the resulting corner, Saka delivered a fantastic ball that was just waiting to be attacked. But once again, England’s movement was poor as the ball was easily cleared.
Southgate’s side were immobile. However, that allegation couldn’t be thrusted upon Kobbie Mainoo – who had been the bright spark. The cleared corner fell to him on the edge of the box, he whipped his foot around a volley which trickled over the bar.
For a short moment it felt like England had a bit more about them, but reality was restored in the 25th minute when Slovakia took the lead for the fourth consecutive time in the tournament.
It was comedic defending from England. Guehi lost out in the air and then Slovakia were off. Stones and Guehi who were both miles out of position tried to retreat, but Strelec dribbled towards goal before slotting Schranz in, who calmly dispatched it past Pickford into the bottom corner.
An exhausting ten minutes followed, England offered little, the play was stagnant and the movement was nonexistent. The supporters began to show their frustration with boos directed towards the display.
All the England fans wanted to see was some fight and desire. Moments later, they got exactly that when Bellingham ran the ball to the byline and attempted a cross. One encouraging sign saw the fans get back behind the team, urging them on to find the equaliser.
England attempted two corners into the near post, they showed promise but on both occasions Guehi impeded Martin Dubravka.
However, England were still not showing enough. Kobbie Mainoo was the only man with Three Lions on his shirt, showing some grit, some fight, some encouraging signs. On the verge of half time, he once again took the bull by the horns and shot from just outside the box – winning his side a corner.
That should be the bare minimum expected of any England player, yet the only one showing glimpses to make the nation proud was the 19-year-old.
England started the second half in a brighter fashion. The moves were quicker and they started to show attacking intent.
Foden had the ball in the back of the net, after England moved the ball very well. Kieran Trippier played a lovely ball along the floor to Foden, who was free at the back post and just tapped it into the back of the net. However, the Premier League’s Player of the Season was offside.
For their improvement, England were almost down and out in the 54th minute when Jordan Pickford was caught off his line and Strelec shot from inside the centre circle – fortunately for England it ran wide.
As their hopes of remaining in the tournament faded away by the second, England attempted to weather the storm. Kane had chances. Foden had chances. Bellingham had chances. The report could run through them all, but they were only glances. It wasn’t enough for the standard that should be expected of an “elite team”.
That being said. Arise, Jude Bellingham. England were dead and buried with two minutes of stoppage time left. Everyone was resigned to the fact that the dream was once again over, and Southgate was on the verge of losing his job.
But as with anything in life, moments can change the course of history.
England had been waiting for a turning point. A bolt to kick in to reinvigorate the side. And, after 94 minutes of gut wrenching viewing it finally arrived.
Will it change the course of England’s entire tournament? Who knows. But it’s given The Three Lions a fighting chance, a hint of belief.
The goal, well you couldn’t have scripted it better. Kyle Walker launched a long throw into a congested box. Marc Guehi – who was partially at fault for Slovenia’s goal – won his header as he flicked it on towards the penalty spot and hoped.
Elegance and pure class followed.
Jude Bellingham, the coolest man in the stadium let loose on an acrobatic overhead kick which went flying into the back of the net. Limbs.
Moments after, the whistle went for full time. England fans were in fine voice. “We Still Believe,” – the message was clear.
The outpouring of emotion was immense. But the players had a job to do. They had to compose themselves.
The events that followed were nothing short of staggering. England had a free-kick just a minute into the first period of extra-time. Dubravka punched it clear, but only as far as Eberechi Eze on the edge of the box.
Crystal Palace‘s talisman attempted a shot, but he didn’t meet the ball well enough.
Although the opening wasn’t over there, he did enough for the ball to carry to the back post. Ivan Toney knocked it on to England captain Harry Kane who headed it into the back of the gaping net. The Three Lions had quite remarkably turned proceedings around.
Tik-tok. The minutes that followed were nervy. Every second felt like an hour. Slovakia had a fantastic chance to level proceedings from six-yards out, but to the relief of the nation Pekarik shot wide.
The second period of extra time was cagey. England were sitting in a cautious 5-4-1, Kane and Bellingham – who had been subbed at the interval – were yelling instructions from the bench. The tension could be cut with a knife.
Slovenia had openings to get themselves back into the game, but the makeshift England defence which consisted of both Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze were coping well.
Somehow, England saw it out. Were they good enough? No. Did they deserve to win? No. But they found a way. They showed remarkable character – a trait that has been absent from their football. But most importantly, they secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
England’s football hasn’t been pretty at all in this tournament, but they’re in the last eight of Euro 2024. Next up is Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday.