Euro24: England survives Slovakia scare & reaches QF , Bellingham dazzles with bicycle kick

 

England's footballers' wives, lovers were so confident they chartered a plane ahead of the match against Slovakia.  After the game in Gelschenkirchen, they planned to go straight to Blankenhein to play the quarter-finals.  That plan almost went down the drain.  Jude Bellingham saved England.  His added time spectacular bicycle goal saved England from the loss.  Harry Kane scored in extra time.  England won from the face of defeat against Slovakia, which was far behind in the book.  They beat Slovakia 2-1 in the 120-minute game and reached the quarter-finals.

 Experts thought that Italy and England will meet in the quarter-finals of the Euro.  They were hoping to see a replay of the last final.  But the last champion Italy lost to Switzerland in the first match of the pre-quarter finals of the Euro.  That is, England will play against Switzerland in the quarter finals.

 Slovakia increased the pressure from the start of the game.  They got a chance to score after 6 minutes.  Haraslin gets the ball from every attack.  His shot goes wide.  After that, Slovakia did not reduce the pressure.  England is a bit behind.  Pressure pays off for Slovakia.  David Strelich receives a long ball from their own half.  He raises the ball towards Schranz.  Schranz scored with a right-footed shot into the box after beating defender Mark Gehry with speed.  (1-0)

After conceding the goal, England tried to increase the intensity of the attack .  But the work was not done.  England had more possession in midfield.  They were playing too many passes but all square passes.  It was having trouble getting the ball forward.  Slovakia's solid defence was not going to be broken.  Slovakia went into the break leading 1-0.

 England played much more attacking football in the second half.  Phil Fodden, Kyle Walker, Cole Palmer were creating more chances.  But the goal was not opening.  Slovakian goalkeeper Dubravka made several good saves.  England had 75 percent of the possession.  Shots on goal were also high.  

 Declan Rice's shot from outside the box hit the post after 81 minutes.  England coach Gareth Southgate was forced to bring down Aberri Eze and Ivan Toni at the end.  That change worked.  Eze headed Walker's long throw into the box in the fifth minute of stoppage time.  The ball goes to an unguarded Bellingham.  He equalized with a spectacular back volley.  However, Slovakia's defense is also somewhat responsible for that goal.  Vavreau was behind Bellingham.  Bellingham might not have been able to hit shots as easily if he had come forward.

The match went into extra time.  At that moment, England got the rhythm of the game.  In the first minute of extra time, Palmer's cross went to Eze.  Harry Kane headed in the cross abd England were finally ahead to the comfort of their fans (2-1).

 After falling behind, Slovakia began a desperate attempt to score.  But they were having trouble getting out of the shock of two goals.  The game is somewhat open.  As a result, England also started getting opportunities.  Slovakia tried hard but could not score again in the rest of the period.  England left the field after winning.  Slovakia's dream is shattered.  But the way teams like Slovakia have troubled England will add to last year's finalists' worries.