England kept their dream alive as after incredible efforts and a lot of luck they managed to turn around and win 2-1 against Slovakia in the third round of 16 clash of Euro 2024. As in their previous matches on German soil, the team of Gareth Southgate did not in any way defend his big ambitions with his performances on the pitch.
The match started better for Slovakia. In the fifth minute, Lukas Haraslin passed to David Hantzko on the left flank. The defender tried to pass sharply on the ground, but the ball went out.
Four minutes later Jude Bellingham found Kieran Trippier in the box. The defender was completely uncovered. However, his shot was extremely inaccurate. In the 22nd, Trippier crossed from the left flank. He found Harry Kane in the penalty area. It resulted in a ricochet and a corner kick. After the cross from the corner, the ball fell to the feet of Kobe Mainu. The midfielder volleys but misses.
In the 25th minute, Slovakia shocked England and took the lead. This time, Francesco Calzona's team took advantage of the space in the opposition half. David Strelets passed to Ivan Shrantz, who scored his third goal of the tournament.
In the 50th minute, the "three lions" thought they had equalized. Harry Kane turned well and found Trippier on the left flank. He passed to Phil Foden, who sent the ball into the empty net. However, the goal was canceled after VAR intervened due to an ambush.
Slovakia came close to doubling the score five minutes later. The English made a simple mistake in the play. David Strelets took a shot from the center of the field, but his shot went inches wide of the left side post. If the shot was accurate, Pickford had no way to intervene.
In the 78th minute, Phil Foden performed a static position. Harry Kane headed the ball in, but his effort went inches wide of the right-hand post. Three after that, England came close to an equaliser. Declan Rice shoots from long range. However, his shot hit the right post.
When hope had begun to fade, Jude Bellingham's moment came. In the fifth minute of the added 6, he scored a great goal - he back-scissored a cross from a corner around the penalty spot and restored the hopes of the English.
Extra time started in a dreamy way for the "three lions". After a scramble in the box, substitute Ivan Toney sent the ball to Harry Kane, who headed in from close range.
In the 104th minute: A great cross in England's penalty reached Peter Pekaric, who from 2-3 meters missed the empty goal under the pressure of a defender. Thus ended the tale of Slovakia. | BGNES.
