6/30/24
Round of 16
England 2 vs. Slovakia 1  (AET)

Three Lions roar back as Southgate survives Slovakia scare

James Hilsum, 2 min ago
Jude Bellingham became the youngest player to score for England in a European Championship knockout match, as his stunning stoppage time finish helped the Three Lions come from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1 and advance to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

After three insipid group-stage performances, Southgate’s side were searching for a display which would reignite hopes of winning a first major trophy in 58 years. However, the start here did nothing to inspire that confidence, with England looking defensively vulnerable as Dávid Hancko and Lukáš Haraslín threatened to open the scoring for Slovakia, with the latter denied by a last-ditch challenge from Marc Guéhi. England rallied with chances for Harry Kane and Kobbie Mainoo, but Southgate’s growing number of critics sharpened their knives when Francesco Calzona’s side took a well-deserved lead. 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, there were no England changes at the break. Phil Foden saw a strike ruled out for offside within minutes of the restart, but Slovakia were undeterred, threatening a second in audacious circumstances. Strelec intercepted an unforgivably sloppy short free-kick from Kyle Walker towards John Stones and let fly from the halfway line, but his strike drifted wide of Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Cole Palmer was introduced for Trippier in a bid to add some much-needed fresh impetus, yet Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka remained completely untroubled. He should have been called into action when Kane met Foden’s perfectly-weighted free-kick, but the England captain inexplicably headed wide. Declan Rice then rifled a long-range strike onto the post to spark some late hope of salvation, but England had still failed to register a shot on target heading into the final 10 minutes.

However, just when the Three Lions looked to be heading out of the tournament with a whimper, Jude Bellingham - as he has done so often for Real Madrid all season - 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. It completed the most remarkable of turnarounds, denying Slovakia what would have been their first appearance in the quarter-finals of a major tournament as an independent nation, while Southgate’s charges will head into the last-eight to face Switzerland in Düsseldorf on Saturday with their morale lifted.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Jude Bellingham (England)

England Slovakia


6/30/24
Round of 16
Spain 4 vs. Georgia 1

Stunning Spain comeback ends Georgia’s Euros crusade

Danny Lewis, 1 min ago
Spain came from behind to beat Georgia 4-1 and reach the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-finals, continuing their 100% record against the Crusaders despite a determined display from the tournament’s plucky underdogs.

La Roja won both H2Hs in qualifying by an aggregate scoreline of 10-2 and looked imperious as the action started in Cologne. Even so, they faced the goalkeeper who finished fourth in La Liga for clean sheets this term in Giorgi Mamardashvili, who continued his impressive performances this tournament by denying Pedri and Robin Le Normand with the Georgia players in front of him also putting their bodies on the line.

Having overcome the early onslaught, 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. Willy Sagnol’s men continued to make forays forward whenever possible, but the Spanish pressure built as Mamardashvili denied Fabián Ruiz, Marc Cucurella and Nico Williams. Spain’s relentlessness eventually told in the 39th minute with Rodri producing a lovely touch and pinpoint finish from the edge of the box - a blow further worsened by Otar Kiteishvili being forced off injured in the aftermath.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came agonisingly close to restoring Georgia’s lead with an audacious attempt from inside his half shortly after the restart. They were soon behind, though, as Mamardashvili denied Lamine Yamal’s free-kick but was left helpless when Fabián headed home from the 16-year-old’s delightful cross. While Yamal couldn’t capitalise on a wayward pass from Giorgi Kochorashvili, Spain largely looked comfortable as they dictated play. 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. Georgia certainly played their part, as they have throughout this tournament, and can head home full of pride.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Nico Williams (Spain)

Spain Georgia