GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — Jude Bellingham scored a spectacular kick with just seconds left to help England avoid one of the most shocking defeats in European Championship history on Sunday.
The midfielder’s acrobatic goal in the fifth minute of added time tied the round of 16 match against Slovakia at 1-1. Harry Kane scored again in the first minute of extra time at the Veltins Arena to secure a 2-1 comeback and a place in the quarter-finals, where England will face Switzerland on Saturday in Düsseldorf.
“I think it was 20 seconds until we were out of the European Championships,” Bellingham said. “It’s hard to deny that it was one of the biggest moments of my career so far.”
For a long time it looked like one of the most humiliating defeats England had ever suffered, bringing back memories of their exit at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016 as one of the pre-tournament favourites was behind Ivan Schranz’s 25th-minute goal to ensure Slovakia qualified.
Boos rang out throughout the stadium in the first half as frustration grew among the fans.
England needed to improve in the second half. VAR disallowed a Phil Foden goal, Kane headed wide from close range and Declan Rice hit the post in the 81st.
With just a few seconds left on the clock, Bellingham’s moment of inspiration arrived.
Kyle Walker took a long shot from the right and Marc Guehi jumped to shoot the ball.
The ball was behind Bellingham in the middle of the area but he instantly readjusted his body and executed a perfect overhead kick, sending the ball into the bottom corner to leave Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka pinned to his line as it nestled into the back of the net.
“I had a strange feeling that the game wasn’t dead and I know it sounds ridiculous. We were pressing and probing,” England manager Gareth Southgate said. “In the end, it’s the one we put into the box that got us the goal.”
Bellingham’s goal was England’s first shot on goal in the match.
He didn’t have to wait long for his second goal, as Kane headed home his seventh goal in his last seven knockout games at major tournaments. He also scored the 65th goal for his country, a record.
England, fifth in the world, has not won a major tournament since its only victory in the 1966 World Cup.
“We haven’t come to get to the quarter-finals, but to get through a night like this was fantastic character and now we’re playing against a Swiss team who have been very good,” Southgate said. “We have a couple of days to recover and prepare for them.”
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James Robson is in https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
