England was almost eliminated from the European Championship – then cycling superstar Jude Bellingham scored the equalizer in the 95th minute and forced an extension against Slovakia.
There, England could turn the game around and win the eighth final with 2–1.
An incredible goal, says Harry Kane in SVT.
The eighth final in the European Championship between England and Slovakia turned out to be at least dramatic.
Slovakia put the pedal to the metal from the start and after an intense match opening, they also got their reward.
In the 25th minute, Ivan Schranz well-deservedly scored 1–0 – his third goal in the European Championship tournament. With that, he shares the top scorer lead with Georgia's Georges Mikautadze and Jamal Musiala, Germany.
On the way to a fiasco
Favourite England, in pursuit of an equalizer, had most of the ball possession, but the really dangerous chances were lacking, and the team was booed by the audience when they went to halftime with a 0–1 deficit.
It didn't get better in the beginning of the second half, when Phil Foden seemed to have scored the equalizer, but the VAR review that followed showed that he was offside, and the goal was disallowed.
Slovakia seemed to be heading for a very surprising quarterfinal, but England – on their way to a fiasco – had not given up yet, despite time being almost up.
In the fifth added minute, the equalizer came – an artistic goal by England's 21-year-old star Jude Bellingham, who cycled the ball into 1–1 and forced an extension.
Jude does what Jude does, it's an incredible goal. It's one of the best goals in our country's history, says team captain Harry Kane in SVT.
Harry Kane decided
Immediately in the extension, the next English superstar stepped forward. With less than a minute played, Kane could nod in the 2–1 goal – and England's turnaround was a fact.
Slovakia made a push in the end of the extension but got no reward, and thus their European Championship is over for this time.
We were close to writing history for our country, so it's very painful. We know it's just football, but it's a big disappointment. But I'm proud of the guys and our performance tonight, says Slovakia's David Hancko.
For England's part, a quarterfinal against Switzerland awaits now.
