England 2-1(AET) Slovakia
Gareth Southgate’s England are through to the quarter finals of Euro 2024 after coming back from the dead to beat Slovakia 2-1 after extra time.
A first half goal from the in form Ivan Schranz looked like it was enough to win it for Slovakia, but a spectacular Jude Bellingham effort, deep into stoppage time, took the game into extra time. Harry Kane headed England in front early in the added time and, while there were a few nervy moments, the Three Lions made it through, though it was mightily cruel on Slovakia.
Highlights of the Game
England came into the clash under a bit of a cloud after an underwhelming group campaign and a number of players way below their usual standards. It took them 30 minutes to register a shot on goal against Slovenia last time out, but they had a pot shot on nine this time around. Jude Bellingham turned superbly and picked out Newcastle United wingback Kieran Tripper but his effort flew way over, though on a second look the ball bobbled just before he hit it. .
In the run up to the game Paris Saint-Germain centre back Milan Skriniar said his team held no fear of the England players and he expected the Three Lions to resort to ‘typically English’ long ball tactics if they struggled to break through. Francesco Calzona’s Slovakia is a team which likes to press high and harry their opponents and they can be dangerous in transition; as Lukas Haraslin got in behind and his shot was blocked by a brilliant Marc Guehi interception before Trippier hacked the ball clear. And when a frustrated Bellingham hacked down Haraslin minutes later the Real Madrid man was booked.
This England team seemed to be playing with fear; and when Slovakia went ahead it was little surprise. Ivan Schranz was played through by David Strelec and Guehi, on a booking, couldn’t jump in from behind and watched the Slovakia man slot home his third goal of the tournament.
This was the first time England had gone behind at Euro 2024; but then they haven’t been ahead for long in this tournament either! Could Southgate’s men muster a response?
Early in the second half things almost went from bad to worse for England when Bellingham hit a woeful free kick straight to Strelec and, with Jordan Pickford off his line, the Slovakian striker took aim and his shot from the half way line drifted narrowly wide. And then, on 66 minutes, the biggest cheer of the night from the England fans came up when Cole Palmer came on for the injured Trippier, Bukayo Saka slotting in at left back.
But the Three Lions had still not had a shot on target!
The moment should have arrived on 79 minutes when Phil Foden sent over a peach of a cross and Harry Kane rose to meet it, but his header flew well wide. And then, two minutes later, Declan Rice hit a sweet strike from 25 yards which cannoned back off the post; and then the unthinkable happened.
England had a shot on target, on 95 minutes, and a worldie of an overhead kick from Bellingham flew in to the net to take the game to extra time.
Football is a great game…and it can be so cruel. For Slovakia, the better team for 95 minutes this was now a case of picking yourselves up and going again. But in the second minute of extra time England scored a scruffy winner, Eberechi Eze scuffed a shot which Ivan Toney headed across goal and Kane nodded home.
The Three Lions go again.
Key statistics
Slovakia made it through the most competitive group in third place after all the Group E teams finished on four points; and they rarely looked second best in any of the three matches, beating Belgium, drawing with Romania and losing to a second half comeback from Ukraine who went out as the fourth placed team.
So I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the Slovaks went in 1-0 up at the break. It had been a tough watch in the first half, England bossing possession but the shot count said four to four, and nil to one on target. And in a tetchy game there were five yellow cards by the break, three for England and two for Slovakia.
The Three Lions roared back (kind of) in the second half and got their leveller with their only shot on target in 95 minutes; Slovakia had two. And when Kane scored in the second minute of extra time England were out of jail.
This was Gareth Southgate’s 99th game in charge of England; and now, somehow, he’s ready for his 100th.
What’s next?
This is, without doubt, the side of the draw to be on and, once the Round of 16 fixtures had been confirmed the Euro 2024 betting odds nudged England up into the favourites slot. The Three Lions’ quarter final will take place in Gelsenkirchen next Sunday where Switzerland awaits after they comfortably beat 2020 champions Italy 2-0, courtesy of goals from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas.
In the meantime the tough side of the draw continues to progress as highly fancied Spain play everyone’s favourite underdogs Georgia on Sunday night. Then on Monday evening the SBOTOP match of the day brings France and Belgium together, while Portugal meet up with Slovenia, and we’ll be back with the Euro 2024 updates as and when more drama unfolds.
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