England promoted to the quarter-finals. How much effort in front of Slovakia who dream until the 95th minute when Jude Bellingham drags them to extra time and Kane… Already a subscriber? Log in here!
- All articles on the site, including the app
- Insights and exclusive newsletters
- Our signature podcasts
– or –
Subscribe to the subscription by paying with Google
Subscribe
SPECIAL OFFER
SPECIAL OFFER
MONTHLY
6,99€
€1 PER MONTH
For 6 months
CHOOSE NOW
Then only €49.99 instead of €79.99/year
Subscribe with Google
England promoted to quarter-finals. How much effort in the face of the Slovakia who dreams until the 95th minute when Jude Bellingham drags it to extra time and Kane the limelight. Too bad for Francesco Calzona. He won’t be there next Saturday at 6 pm in Dusseldorf, against Switzerland who eliminated the Azzurri. Schranz’s goal was illusory in the 25th minute with the English who in the final assault first stop at the post hit by Rice with an attempt by Kane and the ball high and then concretize in the 6 minutes of injury time when the jewel of Real Madrid gives himself a gift after having turned 21 on Saturday and Kane overtakes at the start of extra time.
The Game: The Bellingham Flash
In Gelsenkirchen, Southgate leaves Gallagher out and in midfield chooses to start with Mainoo19 years and 72 days, the third youngest player to play a knockout match for England at the World Cup and the European Championship after Michael Owen against Argentina in 1998 (18 years 198 days) and Wayne Rooney against Portugal in 2004 (18 years 244 days), confirming the rest. Calzona does not cause any surprises and confirms the team seen against Romania with Haraslín cutting his fortieth appearance with Slovakia who immediately makes a very good impression and scores in the 25th minute with Schranz. A difficult ball well managed by Strelec on the edge of the area and who rewards the insertion of Schranz relentless one-on-one with Pisckford, who came on after overcoming a small problem with his little finger during the warm-up. Schranz scored his third goal for the national team and his first goal in the knockout stages of the European Championship. The Slovakians have scored the first goal in all four games before half-time.
Just before the lead, there was an attempt by the English with Mainoo: a right-footed volley after a ball cleared by the defence and the ball went just over the bar. But before that, in the 12th minute, a great opportunity for Slovakia with Haraslín stopped by a great save from Guehi. A tough challenge and three yellow cards in 13 minutes with the Englishman Guehi getting a yellow card while on a warning. England had never failed to have a shot on target in the first half of a knockout match at a major tournament since the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup against Argentina.
The English return to the field is with a different attitude, so much so that after 5′ the great opening of Kane for Trippier who crosses in where Foden leads to the goal in an empty net. But the VAR comes into action: the attacking midfielder is offside on Trippier’s assist. In response, Slovakia comes close to doubling their lead shortly thereafter: Walker and Stones do not understand each other and the ball remains on the halfway line, Strelec rushes in and seeing Pickford outside the area shoots at goal just wide of the post. The ball possession is of the English (even over 75 percent) but the goalkeeper Dubravka is not called upon. Even when the opportunity is great, the English waste it, like in the 33rd minute with Foden’s free kick for Kane’s header from two steps away, or they curse like in the 36th minute when Rice’s shot from the edge hits the post and Kane pounces on it but raises his aim. The English attacks materialize in the 6 minutes of added time when Bellingham equalises with spectacular overhead kick on Guehi’s header after a corner.
Slovakia in shock and everything is decided at the start of extra time. Eze misses, with Toney intercepting and heading the ball into the area: Kane goes for the break and reverses it. The heart pushes the Slovakians and Pekarik before the change of sides, on Benes’s curling cross, almost equalizes with a split from two steps with the ball high. Tupta also gives the illusion of 2-2 with a free kick that ends up over the crossbar with Calzona’s men, who attack with their heads down trying in vain to take the match to penalties.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Read the full article on
The Messenger X
