Euro 2024: Bellingham, Kane save England, take to quarters

Arena Auf Schalke: The goals of youngster Jude Bellingham and skipper Harry Kane took England, which was in fear of elimination until the last minute of the Euro 2024 pre-quarter match against Slovakia, to the quarter on Sunday. Gareth Southgate's mentored team surged into title hopes after beating the Slovakian giants in the extra-time. Jude Bellingham's bicycle kick goal saved the Englishmen from the brink of elimination with seconds left in the match.

A corner that the English received in the last minute of injury time opened the way to the winning goal. Cole Palmer's kick bounced off Marc Guéhi's head in the box, and Bellingham netted it beautifully. With this, the match went into extra time. In the first minute of the extra time, Harry Kane scored the winning goal with a header assisted by Ivan Toney.

The star-studded English dominated the game for most of the match, but Slovakia held on for a single goal in the first half until the end of regular time and injury time.

Shocking England, Slovakia made the lead in the 25th minute after David Strelec made a beautiful pass to Ivan Schtanz, who netted the ball. This was the star's third goal of the tournament, and he joined Germany's Jamal Musiala on the top scorers' list. After conceding a goal, England woke up and sowed fear in the opposite box several times, but Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden could not find the target.

Slovakia was consistent in creating chances in the first half, but it focused on defence in the second.

At the start of the second half, Phil Foden hit the Slovakian net but was ruled offside by VAR. Immediately after, Harry Kane's effort hit the opposing defender's leg and went astray. Meanwhile, one more goal should have been conceded due to the mis-pass of the English players, but a Slovakian got the ball and shot it over the head of the English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who was standing in the box, but missed the target and saved England.

In the meantime, Chelsea goal-scoring-machine Cole Palmer was brought into England's forward by withdrawing Kieran Trippier, and the attacks became sharper. With 13 minutes remaining, Harry Kane's header from a free kick in England's favour went wide by inches. Immediately after, Declan Rice's shot hit the post, and Harry Kane's shot on the rebound suggested that England were on their way to elimination. However, Slovakian hopes were first thwarted by Jude Bellingham, and then Harry Kane shot the ball into their net.