England, inspired by Bellingham, reaches Euro quarter-finals – Journal

GELSENKIRCHEN: Jude Bellingham saved England from Euro 2024 elimination against Slovakia on Sunday with a superb 95th-minute equalizer before Harry Kane’s extra-time winner sent the favorites ahead tournament in the quarter-finals.

Slovakia started the match much stronger than England and gave their opponents several warnings before Ivan Schranz placed a deft finish past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 25th minute.

England, who next face Switzerland, had come back to win their last three Euro matches in which they had conceded first, including the semi-final of the last edition, and thought they were level shortly after the break, but Phil Foden was clearly offside before heading home. .

Harry Kane uncharacteristically headed home a Foden free-kick and Declan Rice hit the post as Slovakia were pinned deep in their own half late on, although England appeared to be lacking confidence as their fans grew increasingly frustrated.

But Bellingham, a day after his 21st birthday, equalised with an incredible bicycle kick at the death to take the game into extra time with England’s first shot on target.

And England took less than a minute after the restart to take the lead when Kane headed past a desperate Martin Dubravka from close range to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Slovakia faded as the game wore on and came close to equalising just before half-time of extra time when Peter Pekarik fired a dangerous cross over the bar.

England repelled a late flurry of balls into the box to secure a fortunate victory and set up a quarter-final clash with Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday.

They will, however, need to be much better against the Swiss, who dominated defending champions Italy in the round of 16 and were unlucky to concede a late equalizer against Germany in the group stage.

On Saturday night, second-half goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala sent Germany into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark after their last-16 clash was delayed by a thunderstorm.

The match was suspended for 20 minutes in the first half due to weather conditions before Danish defender Joachim Andersen went from hero to zero shortly after the break when his close-range finish was disallowed for offside and that he conceded a penalty converted by Havertz in the 53rd. minute.

The hosts took an unassailable lead in the 68th minute, however, when Musiala raced onto an over the top ball and curled home her third goal of the tournament to put Germany through to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Spain or Georgia .

Havertz scored with a neat finish as the stadium erupted in cheers and Denmark searched for an equaliser, he was often exposed to counter-attacks and both Havertz and Leroy Sane missed good chances from close range.

Musiala didn’t waste his chance, however, as he threw a long pass and placed a calm finish past Kasper Schmeichel to secure Germany’s place in the quarter-finals.

Published in Dawn, July 1, 2024