England promoted to quarter-finals. How much effort in the face of the Slovakia who dreams until the 95th minute when Jude Bellingham drags her to extra time and Kane the limelight. Too bad for Francesco Calzona. He won’t be there next Saturday at 6pm 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 chooses to start with in midfield Mainoo, aged 19 years and 72 days, the third youngest player to play a knockout match for England at the World Cup and European Championships 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 doesn’t cause any surprises and confirms the team seen against Romania with Haraslín making his fortieth appearance for Slovakia who immediately made a very good impression and scored in the 25th minute with Schranz. Difficult ball well managed by Strelec on the edge of the area and who rewards the insertion of with a nice pocket Schranz relentless one-on-one with Pisckford, on the field after overcoming a small problem with his little finger during the warm-up. Third goal for Schranz in the national team and the first for his team to score a goal in the direct elimination phase of the European Championships. The Slovaks scored the first goal in all four matches 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 with a different attitude, so much so that after 5′ Kane’s great opening for Trippier who puts it in the middle where Foden leads to the goal into an empty net. But the VAR comes into action: the attacking midfielder is offside following Trippier’s assist. In response, Slovakia soon came close to doubling their lead: Walker and Stones didn’t understand each other and the ball remained on the halfway line, Strelec rushed forward and, seeing Pickford outside the area, shot towards goal, just touching the post. Ball possession belongs to the English (even over 75 percent) but goalkeeper Dubravka is not involved. Even when the opportunity is great, the English waste it, like in the 33rd minute Foden’s free-kick for Kane’s header that goes just wide from two steps, or they curse like in the 36th minute when Rice’s volley from the edge he hits the post and attacks Kane with a split, but raises his aim. The English attacks materialize in the 6′ of injury time when Bellingham equalises with spectacular overhead kick on Guehi’s outburst after the 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 to the deadlift 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.
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