Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick goal in injury time delivered the English Three Lions’ from shame, before Harry Kane netted the winner in extra time.
England enjoyed the narrowest of lucky escapes to secure a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their Euro 2024 last-16 clash after a last-gasp bicycle kick by Jude Bellingham took the match to extra time, before Harry Kane headed the winner.
England were absolutely abject against a Slovakia team who were aggressive from the start and pressed their opponents relentlessly, taking the lead with an Ivan Schranz strike from a counter-attack in the 25th minute.
Declan Rice hit the post from long range as England desperately sought an equaliser but it wasn’t until five minutes into added time that Bellingham finally found the net to undeservedly save the Three Lions. It was a first shot on target in the game for Gareth Southgate’s men and Kane then headed home in the first minute of extra time.
England will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals after they knocked out defending champions Italy with a 2-0 win on Saturday.
The board had gone up to show six additional minutes at the end of the 90, England trailing to Ivan Schranz’s goal for Slovakia midway through the first half and the obituaries were being written.
It had been a largely horrible performance by Southgate’s team, of a piece with much of what they had produced during the group stage of this tournament. But when Marc Guéhi flicked on a long Kyle Walker throw‑in, with stoppage time almost up, Bellingham had found the space in front of the penalty spot and he leapt into the overhead kick. The technique was exquisite.
But when two of Southgate’s substitutes combined, Ivan Toney heading a miscued Eberechi Eze shot across the six-yard box, there was Kane to crash home with his head.
Southgate will bring up his 100th game as England’s manager when his side faces Switzerland in the quarter‑finals on Saturday.
England were better after the second-half restart, bringing a higher tempo.
