First the fear of possible elimination in the round of 16, then the joy of the comeback that came thanks to the feat of Jude Bellingham and to the goal of Harry Kane. “What a match and what a time to be an England player and qualify for the quarter-finals”, the midfielder explains to Sky Sport Declan Rice. “A match like this – he continues – asks a lot of you mentally. I just played a match that will be remembered forever and characterized by a special moment from an equally special player, like Jude and his overhead kick.”
“Bellingham can do what he wants”
In the final assault, with Slovakia defending the 1-0, the English were saved by Bellingham in a reverse. A decisive goal enriched by a technical gesture of a true champion: “It’s thanks to the confidence he has in himself. – Rice points out -. It’s also right that way, because he just won the Champions League, now he also scored an overhead kick. He can do whatever he wants“.
in-depth analysis
Bellingham’s sensational overhead kick goal
And the anecdote about Ilicic…
Finally, still speaking to Filippo Benincampi, Rice returned to talk about an anecdote from last week. In the group stage match that England played against Slovenia, The Arsenal midfielder complimented Ilicic, reiterating the great respect he has for the 36-year-old player: “When he entered the field I thought back to his story that I read a few months ago. I remember when he played for Atalanta and I watched some videos. He was a really great player. I remember him in the Champions League and Serie A matches. He had some bad times but he returned to the field after 3 years, it was special. What he went through is not nice: he is a great player and I am happy that he is back.”
