The Slovaks have by no means overwhelmed a staff from the cradle of soccer, they’ve managed just one goalless draw out of six matches thus far, and that was on the Euros eight years in the past. Nonetheless, this time they had been very near profitable. The opponents allowed themselves to have a big benefit in possession of the ball, however the goalkeeper Dúbravka, who is aware of a lot of the English stars nicely as Newcastle’s goalkeeper, saved a clear sheet for a very long time with none main issues.
Coach Calzona’s males threatened thrice throughout the opening quarter of an hour. Kucka and Strelec ran behind the protection throughout the free kick, however collided on the decisive second. Instantly after, Hancko missed the purpose from an angle and Haraslín’s escape was blocked by the defenders. The English protection didn’t keep away from errors and Guéhi misplaced the quarter-finals attributable to a yellow card within the third minute.
Within the twenty fifth minute, he chased Schranz in useless, who stopped the struggle with him and cold-bloodedly transformed Strelc’s move. The attacker, who didn’t rating a purpose in the whole qualification, ranked among the many finest scorers within the event with three hits. Even within the fourth recreation, the Slovaks opened the scoring on the Euros. English makes an attempt didn’t preserve goalkeeper Dúbravka busy for a very long time.
Within the fiftieth minute, the English made the primary fast break, however Foden’s purpose pleasure was taken away by the video referee, who confirmed offside. On the different finish, Strelec observed that goalkeeper Pickford was standing far in entrance and narrowly missed the proper put up from midway.
The English eleven, 4 years youthful on common, dominated increasingly on the pitch, they performed virtually solely within the Slovakian half, however the end was nonetheless lacking. Kane’s header was extensive once more and Rice hit the put up from distance.
The Slovaks had been already inside attain of a sensational advance earlier than Bellingham’s scissors lower by way of the air. It was England’s first shot to hit the put up and produced the most effective purpose of the event thus far.
And proper after the sport was restarted, the second shot got here and once more ended up within the internet. Captain Kane headed this time after Toney’s extension. It was the sixty fifth worldwide purpose for England’s report goalscorer.
Slovak gamers didn’t surrender, regardless that their greatest attacking belongings had been already sitting on the bench. Pekarík, at 37, the oldest participant on the sphere, got here near equalizing. Liberec attacker Tupta tried to revive the offensive. The favourite was solely defending a slender lead, however he had already taken care of the progress.
Coach Calzona declared that he was happy with the staff regardless of the elimination. “We performed a balanced recreation in opposition to a staff whose worth is big. We performed the second half of additional time virtually of their half, there may be nothing so as to add to that,” he mentioned in an interview with Markíza TV.
Bellingham, who celebrated his twenty first birthday the day earlier than the sport, was named participant of the match. “You are thirty seconds away from going residence. You’re feeling such as you’ve let the nation down, however one kick of the ball and all the things’s nice,” he mentioned after the sport, including: “It is a feeling I do not wish to expertise anymore, however when it comes out like that, it is that is great. We might have been extra exact within the end, however the staff confirmed they’ve character.”
Kane additionally praised him. “Jude scored an unbelievable purpose and saved us alive. He is probably the greatest footballers we have ever had,” mentioned the captain, who himself accomplished the turnaround with the second purpose.
