A Chilean from Jude Bellingham in the 95th minute saved England from the disgrace of elimination. As added time was about to expire, he found himself alone with a ball coming towards him from a multiple jump in a desperate throw-in. It was going to be the last chance. And he took advantage of it.
England had 30 more minutes to play. They didn’t need that much time. In the 91st minute of regulation, the first of extra time, a bad shot from Eze went off Bellingham’s head and That extension found that of Harry Kane, strangely alone just like Jude before, sinking Slovakia, giving him a blow from which he could not recover because he also lacked the best men, progressively replaced to endure a result that was transformed.
Watched Bellingham on the big screen that hangs from the ceiling how his goal had been. She had not had time to think about how improvised and fleeting the play was, while the English crowd sang ‘Hey Jude’, grateful and happy for not having gone through the shame of returning home as deservedly as Italy. They will face the champion’s executioner, Switzerland, next Saturday.
A short trajectory is predicted for this England, saved in two key actions. Elimination would not have been a surprise, since it was created with the simple observation of the game from a broad view of the proposals of both teams, ignoring colors, shields and names. It was, in essence, a battle between a group worth 1,500 million compared to another that costs 150, Francesco Calzona had valued, who prepared the match in the press room, putting pressure on the rival and glorifying the Slovak victory if it happened.
John Stones and Harry Kane celebrate making it 2-1 in extra time. / Ebrahim Noroozi / AP
Whistles from the supporters
Rarely the ‘supporters‘They must have whistled at their own team, and at the Veltins Arena, it happened. It’s true that they have little trouble shouting and encouraging; a throw-in, a corner, a quick play is enough, but they got so bored with the little passes in their own half, that tedious and slow build-up that after half an hour this episode occurred. The whistles at your own team, so frequent in Latin cultures, are very hurtful in northern Europe.
This Southgate England, which will be different with another coach and the same players, was seen as a childish or cadet team due to its rudimentary and simple way of acting. From pass to pass, from station to station, each one in his place because the coach has told me not to move. Neither the goals nor the shot off the post by Rice nor the goal disallowed by Foden colour the poor image of the team.
Bellingham kisses Pickford after a stoppage in extra time. / Ariel Schalit / AP
A disgust that is sensed
From the beginning it was clear that Slovakia would cause disappointment. The offensive irruptions of their attackers, Schranz and Haraslin on the wings, and Kucka and Duda, their interior players, caused fear before the goal arrived. Until then, the only English chance was a shot by Trippier who threw a beer in the second amphitheater.
At the hour mark and a goal disallowed by Foden for offside, some agitation was needed, and Southgate removed Trippier and brought on Cole Palmer, moving Saka back to left back. The only one who escaped from his pair and who made Hancko the worst of the Slovaks.
The fear of winning and the fear of losing They converged in the final stretch. The two fears met and Bellingham reversed fate.
2024-06-30 18:42:27
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