England had to come from a goal down to beat Slovakia 2-1 in extra time in round 16 of Euro 2024.
The Francesco Calzona’s side took a well-deserved lead when David Strelec threaded an intricate through ball into the path of Ivan Schranz to apply a clinical finish with the outside of his right foot, taking his personal goal tally for the tournament to three.
Despite failing to register a shot on target in the first half of a knockout game for the first time since 1986, England came for attack in the second half and when they looked to be heading out of the tournament with a whimper, Jude Bellingham netted in stoppage time, levelling the scoreline with an outstanding acrobatic finish after Guéhi flicked on Walker’s long throw into the box. It was England’s first shot on target of the match, and it arrived in some style to take this contest into extra-time.
Suddenly, this game had taken a dramatic twist, as just 52 seconds into extra-time, Kane headed home from inside the six-yard box after Ivan Toney flicked Eberechi Eze’s miss-hit shot into the skipper’s path.
The Gareth Southgate side will head into the last-eight to face Switzerland in Düsseldorf on Saturday with their morale lifted.
In Cologne, Georgia seemed to have continued their fairytale story, by taking an early lead against Spain but were to lose 4-1 in the night.
Georgia stunned their illustrious opposition in the 18th minute, when their first notable attack culminated in Otar Kakabadze’s cross bouncing in off Le Normand. Spain’s relentlessness eventually told in the 39th minute with Rodri producing a lovely touch and pinpoint finish from the edge of the box for the equalizer.
Mamardashvili denied Lamine Yamal’s free-kick but was left helpless when Fabián headed home from the 16-year-old’s delightful cross. Giorgi Gvelesiani’s blushes were spared with Yamal being caught marginally offside before squaring a ball that he bundled in, but nothing could save the defender moments later, when Williams glided past him and struck past Mamardashvili.
Dani Olmo then added an extra layer of gloss to the scoreline with a wonderful touch and cool finish, as Spain continued their status as the only team to have won all of their games at Euro 2024, setting up a tantalising contest against hosts Germany in the quarter-final.
