Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

England2 - 1Slovakia

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 June 2024, 19:04
England scraped through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 by virtue of a nerve-jangling 2-1 extra-time win over Slovakia in their last-16 tie in Gelsenkirchen.

Gareth Southgate's men flattered to deceive for the fourth game running in Germany and appeared to be heading for a deserved exit when Ivan Schranz slotted in his third goal of the competition.

However, a last-gasp Jude Bellingham bicycle kick forced an additional 30, the first minute of which saw Harry Kane come up with a critical captain's contribution, heading in the goal that sealed England's spot in the last eight.

The Three Lions have now progressed to the quarter-finals of all four major tournaments with Southgate at the helm, and here, Sports Mole analyses England's nail-biting success at the Veltins-Arena.

HIGHLIGHTS

5th min: Lukas Haraslin and David Hancko link up well down the left as the latter fizzes a crisp ball across the six-yard box, but there are no takers.

9th min: Jude Bellingham plays a stunning cross-field pass to Kieran Trippier, who is in acres of space and goes for the first-time strike but balloons his effort into orbit.

12th min: Slovakia break down the left again through Haraslin, who speeds away from Walker and finds himself one-on-one with Jordan Pickford, but Marc Guehi comes charging in to take the sting out of the shot and Trippier can hack clear.

23rd min: Trippier's inswinging cross reaches Harry Kane at the back post, but Hancko manages to get his shoulder in the way to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

24th min: Kobbie Mainoo tries the spectacular on the half-volley and his effort is not a million miles away, but still too high to trouble Martin Dubravka.

GOAL: ENGLAND 0-1 SLOVAKIA (SCHRANZ)

25th min: A third goal of the Championships for Slovakia winger Ivan Schranz! David Strelec holds the ball up well in front of John Stones and waits for the run of Schranz, who is ahead of the booked Guehi and Trippier and pokes the ball into the bottom corner. 0-1.

45 +3 min: Mainoo works some space with a fine solo run from the left channel and lets fly, but his shot takes a nick on its way behind.

HALF TIME: ENGLAND 0-1 SLOVAKIA

50th min: England finally penetrate the Slovakia backline to devastating effect, as Kane sprays a delightful ball out to Trippier, who squares for Phil Foden to tap home, but the Manchester City man was ahead of the last defender and the goal is chalked off for offside.

52nd min: Kane's low strike takes a wicked deflection off of Denis Vavro and drops just wide of Dubravka's far post. England much better at the start of the second period.

55th min: Nearly a calamity for England as Stones fails to spot a short Bellingham free kick roll in front of him, and Strelec's audacious effort from the halfway line bounces just wide.

59th min: Controversy as a yellow-carded Juraj Kucka scythes down the bright Mainoo on the edge of the box, but the referee decides against sending off the Slovakia midfielder.

78th min: A golden chance for Harry Kane goes begging as the Bayern Munich man somehow heads wide of the post from a brilliant free-kick delivery from Foden.

81st min: A 20-yard drive from Declan Rice smacks the post before Kane's acrobatic rebound bounces once and flies over the top.

87th min: Stanislav Lobotka goes for a drive from range which is straight down Pickford's throat.

GOAL: ENGLAND 1-1 SLOVAKIA (BELLINGHAM)

90 +5 min: Bellingham saves England right at the death with one of the goals of the tournament! A Walker long throw is nodded onto the Real Madrid man by Guehi, and he leaves Dubravka flat-footed with a magnificent bicycle kick into the bottom corner!

FULL TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 SLOVAKIA

GOAL: ENGLAND 2-1 SLOVAKIA (KANE)

91st min: Two shots on target, two goals for a revived England! Slovakia can only partially clear their lines after a set-piece, and Eberechi Eze's volley into the ground is nodded on by Ivan Toney, whose header finds captain Kane to guide home!

105th min: Slovakia right-back Peter Pekarik is in a fantastic position to score at the back stick as a ball is fizzed into him, but under pressure from Eberechi Eze, he deflects Laszlo Benes's cross over the top.

111th min: Lubomir Tupta goes for goal from a 25-yard free kick, but it is too central and too high to cause Pickford any problems.

FULL TIME IN EXTRA TIME: ENGLAND 2-1 SLOVAKIA

MAN OF THE MATCH - DECLAN RICE

Of course, a mention for Kobbie Mainoo, England's two goalscorers and Slovakia's entire backline, but the Three Lions would not have progressed had it not been for the flawless efforts of Declan Rice in the middle.

The Arsenal man did not misplace a single long pass (7/7) or lose a single ground duel (6/6) in a tough-tackling display, although his fracas with Calzona at the end was an unnecessary blot on the notebook.

STANDOUT MOMENT

Having looked leggy, unproductive and in desperate need of a rest during England's draws with Denmark and Slovenia, some even suggested that Jude Bellingham ought to have been dropped for the last 16, pleas that of course fell on deaf ears.

After nearly allowing Strelec to score from the halfway line with a careless free kick, the 21-year-old spared England's blushes with a perfectly-executed bicycle kick, in what will no doubt be remembered as one of the goals of the tournament.

BEST STATS

MATCH STATS

Possession: England 63%-36% Slovakia

Shots: England 16-13 Slovakia

Shots on target: England 2-3 Slovakia

Corners: England 9-1 Slovakia

Fouls: England 12-19 Slovakia

LINEUPS

ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier (Palmer 66'); Mainoo (Eze 84'), Rice; Saka, Bellingham (Konsa 106'), Foden (Toney 90 +4'); Kane (Gallagher 106')

SLOVAKIA (4-3-3): Dubravka; Pekarik (Tupta 109'), Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka (Bero 82'), Lobotka, Duda (Benes 82'); Schranz (Gyomber 90 +3'), Strelec (Bozenik 61'), Haraslin (Suslov 61')

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes has reportedly indicated he will take time to consider his future before he commits to a new contract. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Eddie Howe will be nervous about holding onto star striker Alexander Isak at Newcastle as his fine goalscoring form continues. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has named his starting side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca has opted to use Levi Colwill as a replacement for the suspended Marc Cucurella for Sunday's Premier League game at Everton. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table.