JUDE BELLINGHAM’S magnificent overhead kick deep into injury time saved England from a humiliating exit from the Euros.
Gareth Southgate’s side were abysmal and looked to be heading home thanks to Ivan Schranz’s smart finish.
But Bellingham came to the rescue in the 96th minute, firing brilliantly into the corner after Marc Guehi pounced on Kyle Walker’s long throw.
Incredibly, it was England’s first shot on target, summing up how poor they were.
But there was another soon after, after 53 seconds of extra time, Harry Kane scored from close range to set up a quarter-final with Switzerland.
It was so good, and if they play like this against the Swiss, they will be toast.
Here’s how Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… and manager Southgate.
Jordan Pickford: 5
He appeared to injure his left hand on a hard hit in the warm-up, but played anyway. He shot a lot of long balls and was lucky that David Strelec didn’t lob him from 45 meters.
Kyle Walker: 4th
England’s second most experienced player experienced a shock. He looked unusually slow, his touch was heavy and his crossing was nowhere near good enough. But it was his long throw that led to Bellingham’s magic.
John Stones: 4
He said it was time for the senior pros to step up in game preparation, but there was no sign of that until Bellingham did his thing, and he’s just 21 years old. Stones were firing long balls aimlessly, giving them away and it was his mistake that almost led to Strelec trying his luck from distance.
Marc Guehi: 5
He was booked early on for a pass under Kieran Trippier’s shot which meant he had to take out the excellent David Strelec, meaning he was out of the quarter-finals. Ivan Schranz cheated him for Slovakia, but his tackle on Bellingham led to the equalizer.
Kieran Trippier: 4th
When Jude Bellingham’s good ball found Trippier on the edge of the penalty area at the first goal, on his favored right foot, you thought, ‘Let’s go’. He smashed it into the Z line.
Declan Rice: 5
The old-school reducer on Juraj Kucka was a fair effort, even if it left the 37-year-old limping. His corner attempt with ten minutes to go bounced off the post.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6
FIRST start at a major tournament and our only decent player in a terrible first half from England. He volleyed but was also booked for a late tackle.
Bukayo Saka: 5
We all know what a fantastic player Saka is for Arsenal, and for England in past games, but he rarely threatened here. Nevertheless, he went far, and in several positions.
Jude Bellingham: 7 and OLD MAN
The hour comes, the man comes. By the 96th minute, he failed again, but who cares when you step up like that.
Phil Foden: 4
I thought he equalized early in the second half but was ruled out by VAR after he was inexplicably caught offside. Just without him all night, in danger of being dropped.
Harry Kane: 6
He was still far from his best – he was nowhere to be seen in the first half and missed a free-kick after the break – but he made it when it counted in extra time.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Cole Palmer (for Kieran Trippier, 66): 7
THE FANS were on their feet and clapping when Southgate finally made the change and brought him into the game. So lively and with a nice performance, he must have a chance to start against the Swiss.
Eberechi Eze (for Kobbie Mainoo, 84): 6
He did enough to deny Slovakian full back Peter Pekarik from a close range goal in extra time. He looked like he had been hit by a train when Denis Vavro ran into him.
Ivan Toney (for Phil Foden, 90): 7
HE GRABBED the assist for Kane’s winner by going over after a free-kick – which he won with his own strength – was deflected.
Conor Gallagher (for Harry Kane, 105): 6
Southgate rolled the dice in extra time trying to shut the game down, taking off his captain for the Chelsea midfielder.
Ezri Konsa (for Jude Bellingham, 105): 6
The same goes for Gallagher as Konsa got his first minutes of the tournament instead of hero Bellingham, which seemed like a risky strategy.
MANAGER
Gareth Southgate: 3.
Happy, happy man. Tactically, his team was a long ball, lacked any movement and didn’t conjure up a shot on goal until Bellingham’s miracle strike – and that came after Walker threw him into the mixer. Substitutions lasted in the 90, and then he felt risky as he asked for a game in extra time.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education