Euro 2024: Thrilling Moment England Come From Behind To Beat Slovakia To Reach Quarterfinal

 

England are through to the quarterfinal of the Championship following a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Slovakia that came off Jude Bellingham's thrilling overhead kick in the stoppages that pushed the game into extra-time. 

Slovakia were heading towards a famous victory for their first Last 16 game victory in a major tournament with Ivan Schranz's opener before the Three Lions turnaround the game to claim a satisfactory victory from behind. 

Schranz latched onto a through ball from David Streclec following a counter, and while challeneged by Marc Guehi, he fired the ball home from close range. Slovakia took the lead and that continued until late into the stoppages when Bellingham's overhead kick following Kyle Walker's throw in beat Martin Dubravka to the goal for the equalizer. 

As the game progressed to extra-time, England moved ahead in the first minutes as Ivan Toney's header pass from Eberechi Eze's shot arrived onto Harry Kane for a header inside the six-yard box that beat Dubravka to the net for England's second goal. 

The Slovaks were near leveling the game with Pekarik sliding to poke in Bozenik's cross but Eze blocked him well-enough to hit the ball wide. As England progressed to the quarterfinal, they will face Switzerland in their next match. 

While it took so long for England's comeback, Bellingham's goal was the team's first shot on target and it was on the 94:34th minutes. More so, Harry Kane's goal is England's new record for the earliest goal ever scored in an extra-time.

Overview 

England gradually built up pace into the game idespite the deficit from Schranz's opener and against well-cordinated defence of the Slovakians. The build up to opener was skillfully approached by the Slovaks, catching the Three Lions' defence loose and made most of the counter. 

Meanwhile, both goals from the Three Lions came off set pieces and that was compensating to late changes made by Gareth Southgate to have brought in fresh legs, which revamped the confidence in the team. Ivan Toney and Eze quickly made impacts on the gme and both assisted in the build up leading to Harry Kane's header that sealed the game. Great technical job from the Southgate that reinforced the team and delightful victory to England.