'The biggest surprise in the tournament...' Almost burst in the round of 16...'Worst 90 mins'→'Dramatic upset'England advances to the quarterfinals' with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Slovakia'

Jul 01, 2024

England almost fell victim to a shocking upset in the round of 16.

England's national team, led by head coach Gareth Southgate, won 2-1 against Slovakia in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 at Arena Aufshalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on the 1st (Korea time).

England were one of the favourites for the Euros. In comparison with prominent teams such as France, Portugal, and Germany, England was always the top candidate. England had a lot of defeat in this game, but by overcoming it, they were able to avoid finishing with a shocking performance of elimination from the round of 16.

England played in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane was on the front line, and Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden were on the second line. Kobe Mainu and Declan Rice kept the third term. The defense consisted of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Mark Gehie and Kieran Trippinger. Jordan Pickford kept the goal.

Slovakia faced off in a 4-3-3 formation. Lucas Haraslin, David Strelletz and Ivan Schranz made up the three-top. Ondrech Duda, Stanislav Robotka and Jurach Kutska worked together in the midfield. Four backs included David Hantzko, Milan Shkriniar, Denis Barbro and Peter Pekarik. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Martin Dubravka.

England fell behind Slovakia from the start of the first half. In the 5th minute of the first half, Hantzko's left foot shot passed by the net and overcame the crisis. In the 12th minute of the first half, Haraslin received a decisive pass and headed in front of the England gate, but the last shot was caught in defense.

England were dragged away, allowing the first goal. In the 25th minute of the first half, Kutska pushed the pass from the back to Streletz with a header, and Streletz, who received the ball, handed the pass to Schranz, who ran between the defenses. Schrantz calmly tried to shoot in front of the gate and the ball shook England's net.

England then fought back, but the score was not scored and the first half ended with Slovakia's 1-0 lead.

England shook Slovakia's net early in the second half, but it was denied a goal. In the fifth minute of the second half, Foden, who received Trippier's pass, pushed the ball in and opened the Slovak goal, but Foden's position was declared offside in the previous Trippier pass situation.

England almost allowed extra runs in a dizzying error. While Stones did not check the ball properly in the 10th minute of the second half, Strelletz caught the ball and confirmed that Pickford came forward near the half-line and attempted a long-range shot as it was. The ball over Pickford's head went to the side of the net and England were able to get through the crisis.

England pushed Slovakia little by little and aimed for an equalizer opportunity. In the 15th minute of the second half, Mainu drew a foul from Kutska just before the penalty box to earn a free kick while driving the ball in person. Foden's shot as a kicker bounced off the defensive wall.

Even a sad injury has plagued England. In the 21st minute of the second half, Trippier was injured and left the stadium. England, which has no alternative to the left full-back position, put in Cole Palmer without Trippier, and switched Saka, who previously played as a winger, to left full-back.

England blew a golden opportunity. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Kane succeeded in connecting the ball that Foden posted in a free kick situation with a header, but the ball flowed to the side of the net as it was. Rice's powerful mid-range shot also bounced off the post and hit the ground in the 36th minute of the second half.

England were dragged away without scoring until extra time in the second half, but a miraculous equalizer was scored. In the fifth minute of extra time in the second half, when Walker's long throw-in hit Eze's head and headed to the center of the box, Bellingham shook the Slovak net with an acrobatic bicycle kick. The second half ended 1-1 and the game was extended for the first time in the tournament.

England turned the game around early in the first half of extra time. When Eze's shot popped up in the second minute of the first half of extra time, Ivan Tony in the box delivered it to the front of the door with a header. Kane scored a come-from-behind goal by pushing the ball straight into his head.

Slovakia, which lost its lead, also launched a counterattack. In the 15th minute of the first half of extra time, Pekariq tried to touch it when a cross came up in front of the gate, but it did not reach it properly.

As the second half of extra time began, Slovakia also launched an offensive for an equalizer. He kept shaking England under pressure. In the fifth minute of the second half of extra time, Lubomir Tupta's shot rose high in a free kick situation in front of England's penalty box.

In the end, the match ended with a 2-1 victory for England.

digh1229@sportschosun.com