Jude Bellingham brilliance as papers are released on crackdown on England’s Euro 2024 case! Football News. England’s quest to end 58 years of misery at Euro 2024 stays alive thanks to one moment Jude Bellingham A superb game, but the Three Lions failed to live up to the expectations of future European champions, losing 2-1 to Slovakia.
Another humiliating defeat for English football at a major tournament was on the horizon in Gelsenkirchen, but Bellingham’s acrobatic effort in the 95th minute broke Slovak hearts. A minute into extra time, Harry Kane After this, they made a comeback and fixed a clash with Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Jude Bellingham brilliance as papers are released on crackdown on England’s Euro 2024 case
However, any excitement among England fans at finishing as the underdogs in a draw was dampened by another disappointing display from Gareth Southgate’s side.
England arrived in Germany as pre-tournament favourites due to their squad rich in attacking talent.
Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona insisted on the eve of the game that Southgate was dealing with “the best team of the Euros”.
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But a team with Bundesliga top scorer Kane and the Premier League player of the year Phil Foden And recent Champions League winner Bellingham has been difficult to retain possession of the ball and easy to defend against.
Until Bellingham’s last-minute intervention, England had scored just two goals in four games, while the shortcomings of a makeshift backline were also exploited by Slovakia early on.
The world No. 45 side had already missed two big chances but Ivan Schranz broke through the England defence to score his third goal of the tournament in the 25th minute.
England fans dominated all but a small section of the 50,000-capacity Offschalke Arena and made their disappointment known with booing when the half-time whistle blew.
Southgate’s men improved slightly after the break but had no option other than Kane sending a header wide from a free-kick. Declan Rice The shot from distance came back off the post, but Slovakia sat deep to defend their lead and couldn’t make much of a breakthrough.
After the 0-0 draw against Slovenia, which ensured top spot in Group C, Southgate bemoaned the “unusual atmosphere” as disgruntled supporters hurled empty beer cups at him.
‘Scoring goals is my liberation’
The England manager and his players were playing with even more anger until Bellingham’s superb performance gave him a chance to answer his critics after two disappointing displays against Denmark and Slovenia.
The Real Madrid star said about his goal celebrations: “Playing for England is a lot of fun but you also hear a lot of people talking rubbish. When you do well it’s nice to be able to give them a little reply.”
“For me playing football, being on the pitch, scoring goals is my liberation and maybe it’s also a message for some people.”
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Southgate was more than aware that the criticism would continue to be levelled at his side ahead of facing the Swiss side in Dusseldorf.
“We are putting plaster on things and giving opportunities to the young players,” Southgate said.
“We are somehow finding a way. I can imagine how everyone would react, even if we won, we are still there. One thing that cannot be questioned is the will, the commitment, the character.”
All eyes are on Southgate to find a solution over the next six days so that he does not fail again to achieve success in a major tournament at his fourth attempt.
Switzerland comfortably beat defending champions Italy 2-0 on Saturday and have taken on Slovakia in a significant improvement in quality.
The England coach praised the impact of his substitutes.
Eberechi Eze and Ivan Toney played a part in Kane’s winning goal, while Cole Palmer Some emphasis was added from the mid-field.
However, the fact it took Southgate 66 minutes to make any changes and his insistence on playing 10 out of 11 players in all four games so far has raised questions about his judgement.
Bellingham’s intervention ensures Southgate will take charge of his country for the 100th time in the quarter-finals.
But England will have to make significant improvements if he is to remain in his position after his hundred.