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Moment of sublime joy saves desperate England from worst nightmare
It felt like it was over and then, just as they were beginning to box up the Three Lions tracksuits and the portraits of the players’ dogs back at the team hotel, suddenly England burst out – unexpectedly alive – in Euro 2024.
They awakened as if from a trance, from some of the slowest, backwards football they have played to some of the most desperate and then – when it all teetered on collapse – the most sublime. A 95th minute equaliser from Jude Bellingham, both feet off the ground, if not a bicycle kick in the purest sense, then a volley of sheer acrobatic joy. “Who else?” he asked the crowd as he celebrated. Well, quite. Who else, indeed.
UNBELIEVABLE 🤩
Jude Bellingham pulls out an overhead kick to save England in the dying moments 🏴#EURO2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/px4qLzJQoq— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
England were going out and then, almost immediately, they were going through. They had fallen behind to a 25th-minute goal from a Slovakia team newly minted by Francesco Calzona as the perfect opponent for England. Methodical, well-organised, brave, skilful, Slovakia navigated 94 min 34 sec of this round-of-16 tie but they could just not manage the final 1 min 26 sec. They seemed to have caught England on the right day – a manager at the end of an era, players embarrassed and disconnected, a strategy that was hard to discern.
England are behind against Slovakia... 😳#Euro2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/B7P5KLvQd6
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
The tie went sprawling into extra time and in the first minute Harry Kane headed England’s second, and the winning goal. It had been shaping up as the angry final postscript of Southgate’s England years and then suddenly it was him who was authoring the story of triumph with familiar reasonableness. What he said to mollify the game-changing substitute Ivan Toney, furious about being left just a minute of the game. How, a goal behind, he had weighed up substituting the exhausted Kane and Bellingham and decided it was worth the risk of seeing what they might do.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? 😱
Harry Kane puts England in the lead at the beginning of extra time 🏴#Euro2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/knUPc2gabI— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
All these great forks in the road. Having seemingly left the map in the first half, suddenly the team were winning and through. The judgment had come in on Southgate, the game was up, the era was over. And then, as if from nowhere, England are playing Switzerland on Saturday in Dusseldorf for a place in the semi-finals.
What had preceded this, the first half above all, felt like a team going through a very particularly intense kind of breakdown. England had 75 per cent possession and no discernible idea what they might do with it. They moved so slowly that it felt like you could already see the pass backwards before they played it. Calzona had spotted the problem: England could not pass through his well-drilled midfield, and they had precious few options wide.
Southgate would acknowledge afterwards that Slovakia’s press through the middle was all but impenetrable, and the wide channels inaccessible for an England team who did not have a left-sided player. But he also never wavered in his belief that there was a way through. Although the clock had ticked past 90 minutes, he told Toney that there might be a moment, and Southgate was right.
Was that where it ended? Of course not. England then immediately rediscovered their instinct for self-sabotage. They fell back into a 5-3-2 formation. Then a 5-4-1. For much of the latter period of the 90 minutes, and all of extra time, Bukayo Saka was at right wing-back. Substitute Eberechi Eze was left wing-back. England had four different players at left-back, starting with Kieran Trippier, none of whom are technically left-backs.
It felt like a fever dream. Finally, in Toney, the Slovakian defence seemed to have come up against an Englishman they did not know how to handle. Toney got the assist, perfectly weighted with his head for Kane’s winner from Eze’s mishit shot.
How did all this happen? Bellingham, obviously, and then you would have to say a spirit in this England team that refused to let it go. Southgate was being booed even before the game. The team went off at half-time to booing and you could understand why. They had the game under control, the goal aside, they just did not know what to do with it. Kyle Walker, of all people, was having a difficult night. Kobbie Mainoo had been the team’s best player in midfield.
Slovakia worked the ball beautifully for their goal. From Jura Kucka’s header it went to David Strelec and onto Ivan Schranz, a 30-year-old striker at Slavia Prague who finished nicely. At many points, England could have won the ball back. By the time it was at Schranz’s feet, Guehi, suspended for Saturday for a booking, was contemplating a foul that would have been a straight red.
In the final stages Southgate seemed determined to go down doing it his way, with his team. In retrospect, it looks like he might even have been right. Was he right? Right to leave on Kane and Bellingham. Right to send on Toney. A great result can demand its own logic. But four games into Euro 2024, it would be hard to say Southgate has got a team and a plan that works. Yet he has stayed the course.
His substitutions seemed – how to say this – grudging? First of all, none at half-time. Then the first, Cole Palmer on 68 minutes, then Eze, then the mighty Toney, and, at the end, Southgate sent on Conor Gallagher and Ezri Konsa for the final manic retreat. Southgate said that he had tweaked the system at half-time. Even though, the absence of a left-back specialist feels like a problem that England may run out of time on solving at Euro 2024.
Five minutes after half-time Phil Foden had strayed offside when he could have delayed his run and it meant the goal he scored was disallowed. Declan Rice hit the post on 81 minutes. England had gone close but it was hard to deny that the mind was not sizing this defeat up for historical scale against the other tournament catastrophes, Iceland 2016, Romania in 2000, the United States in 1950.
“I had belief right the way through we would get that goal,” Southgate said. “I didn’t think it was going to be as late as it was – but I wasn’t prepared to go back home yet and the players felt the same.”
It finished with the ball in the arms of Jordan Pickford – and an outburst of joy. Then Southgate finally was on the pitch, applauding the fans who had wished him gone barely 30 minutes earlier and, in the euphoria, being applauded back.
Follow latest reaction below...
09:55 PM BST
Well, that was a remarkable turnaround
But once the dust settles, it was, it has to be said, another poor performance. Can England find something extra for Saturday’s last-eight encounter with Switzerland? If they cannot it’s hard to see them progressing further. BUT if the match illustrates anything it’s that you can never rule them out.
09:49 PM BST
Here’s what Bellingham had to say after the match
“There’s a really high intense pressure. The fans expect a lot from us regardless of what happened in recent tournaments years and years ago. People talk a lot. You do have to take it personally a little bit. We work so hard at this game. We come in every day, we work hard to put on a performance for the fans, sometimes it doesn’t go well and sometimes it feels like there’s a bit of a pile on, it’s not nice to hear. But you can always use it and for moments like that, it’s nice to throw it back to some people.”
READ: Jude Bellingham hits back at England critics for ‘rubbish’ thrown at players + How England’s young superstar offered another reminder of just how irreplaceable he is to Gareth Southgate
09:41 PM BST
Check what pure joy looks and sounds like
🔊 SOUND ON 🔊
The noise when the ball hit the back of the net from Jude 🦁#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/h4MHTtAxqA— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
09:30 PM BST
Gareth Southgate speaks to Radio 5 Live - ‘That’s why you don’t make changes’
On not make substitutions earlier...
“I had a funny feeling the game wasn’t dead and I know that sounds ridiculous. We were pushing and probing. Ultimately it is the one we have thrown in the box that got us the goal.”
On Jude Bellingham’s superb equaliser...
“With 15 minutes to go you wonder if he is out on his feet. Him and Harry Kane produce those moments and that is why you don’t make changes when people are clamouring for more changes. We had enough attacking players on the pitch.”
On Harry Kane...
“He is an extraordinary goal scorer, he is leading the team so well. He has been exceptional as a captain keeping the ship steady...He has been through it before and nights like tonight are which the younger ones will refer back to as that is what happens in tournaments.”
09:27 PM BST
Declan Rice speaks to BBC Sport - ‘That takes a lot of guts’
On Bellingham’s winner...
“It is crazy because if that was me that was going over the bar! It was a big moment for 21-years old, that takes a lot of guts. People don’t understand what you have to go through to get over the line.”
On the Slovakia performance...
“We are not playing against invisible men. They are top footballers, they kept going after us. It is about waiting for those moments as the game got stretched we created more.”
On the England fans..
“The fans tonight I cannot speak highly enough of them. So grateful they are all here to experience that.”
09:23 PM BST
Harry Kane speaks to BBC Radio 5 Live - ‘We know we can improve’
On the team spirit...
“We talk a lot about this team that we have created since Gareth has been here. Of course we know we can improve but what people and other teams underestimate is the spirit we have. The long-throw we did [for the goal] was something we worked on.”
On the quarter-final clash against Switzerland...
“Another big game. A tough one against Switzerland. In this competition every game is tough. Ultimately a lot of these tournament are about spirit and finding a way to win. We have shown a lot of that and we need to continue doing so.”
09:03 PM BST
Jude Bellingham on who writes his scripts
“I do.”
08:53 PM BST
Pundits haven’t been shy in their criticism of England so far in the tournament
So how did they react to that nail-biting win, one that was so close to a humbling defeat? Here’s what ITV’s Gary Neville, never backwards in coming forwards, had to say...
“Sweet Caroline doesn’t sound very sweet. Relief is the word of the day. We’ve been very, very lucky and we should thank our lucky stars because we were woeful and we’ve been woeful now for four games. Not even in extra time did we play well and Slovakia were unlucky at the end. We’ve got to change something dramatically and Gareth will realise tonight that he was so close to the edge.”
READ: Gary Neville slams ‘woeful’ England despite dramatic victory over Slovakia
08:46 PM BST
Southgate press-conference quotes - ‘We know that the level of our game will need to be higher’
On bringing on Ivan Toney late on...
“I knew Ivan Toney had the hump with me for putting him on and I said to him “this could be the moment...I showed team presentation of 1966 and [Geoff] Hurst not playing until quarters to send message that everyone needed to be ready.”
On what went wrong in the first half...
“We struggled to get through their pressure, we were too slow moving the ball. Second half we changed the way we built and it helped us get through that first line of pressure. I thought for a young team they showed great patience when the pressure would have been to get the ball forward quickly.”
On the problematic left-side...
“We know that we have a little bit of a problem with our balance without a left-footed left-back but Kieran Trippier is doing an incredible job for the team.”
On what needs to happen from now on...
“We want to be better, I’m not going to hide from that. But the spirit and character was there for everyone to see and we’re still in there fighting.”
More on Toney having the hump...
“I could tell from his face what he was thinking and I could understand it...I said ‘I know this isn’t a good time or how you’d like it but there could be one moment’. I think his presence would have unsettled them a bit. I think he’s just about forgiven me now.”
On the win...
“I wasn’t ready to go home yet and neither were the players.”
Knowing that England have to improve...
“We know that the level of our game will need to be higher. But there is a spirit and togetherness which has been building. We’ve had a lot of problems we’ve needed to solve going into this tournament, putting a plaster over a lot of things... But we’re still in there. The thing that can’t be questioned is the desire, the commitment and the character.”
On Bellingham...
“He was 21 yesterday and he’s doing unbelievably well. His world is different to pretty much every other 21 year old in the world. He’s had an incredible impact on his clubs and his national team already but he’s still a young man and he is going to say things, react to things in a way that young people will. But what he can provide is these moments when he grabs things by the scruff of the neck and his character, his personality can create moments when he can change a big game. He’s a great boy, super to work with, wants to do well and I think he knows we;’re trying to help him through all these challenges and hurdles that the national team brings.”
08:40 PM BST
There’s no way you cannot get enough of Bellingham’s equaliser
So here’s a good read breaking down the memorable bicycle kick – and where it ranks among England’s greatest goals.
08:16 PM BST
Thom Gibbs’ verdict: Crisis averted (for now) thanks to England’s greatest Euros goal
08:12 PM BST
How did England nearly fall to defeat?
The first 45 minutes against Slovakia brought back painful memories of Iceland in Euro 2016 and but for Bellingham’s ‘make a statue of it and put it in a museum overhead kick’ equaliser England would be out.
Here’s how Southgate’s side were nearly dumped out of the tournament.
08:02 PM BST
Who did you think shone, and who had a stinker?
Here are Telegraph Sport’s player ratings from the nail-biter in Gelsenkirchen.
READ: Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo shine in Euro 2024 victory
07:57 PM BST
What a time to get the first shot on target
95 - Jude Bellingham's equaliser was England's latest ever goal in normal time at the UEFA European Championship (94:34), and was netted with his side's first shot on target in the match. Cometh. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/J1kEOC84X6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2024
07:56 PM BST
Well, they never gave up
4 - England have won their last four games when conceding first at the UEFA European Championship, with only France (5) winning more after conceding the opening goal in the competition's history. Character. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/rcUtvJWrCO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2024
07:50 PM BST
Harry Kane speaks to ITV - ‘It was tough for a second there’
On the win...
“That’s the desire and attitude from the boy and staff, everyone involved. It was tough for second there but we kept going. We work on so many details and put in a long throw a couple of days ago and said we might need it. Jude did what he does and he kept our tournament alive.”
On the Bellingham equaliser...
“It’s one of the best in our country’s history. What a player, he works so hard. In the big moments he steps up. You need that and he did it today.”
On the performance...
“It comes down to preparation, subs did brilliant, you find a way to win and that’s what we did today. We know how to dig deep. We could have played better but ultimately its a results business [and we’re though].”
07:42 PM BST
Rice involved in an altercation with the Slovakia manager
After the final whistle Francesco Calzona went to talk to the referee, Halil Umut Meler, and appeared to have a word with Rice before a shove. The situation was diffused before it got out of hand.
Declan Rice in an altercation with Slovakia manager 👀#Euro2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/FjJIuj5WUk
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
07:39 PM BST
ENGLAND THROUGH TO THE QUARTERS
Well, knockout stages are all about winning. Get the victory and through the the next round. So the positive is obviously that England are in the last-eight, and will meet Switzerland next Saturday. But once again the performance was far from great. They were lucky tonight and have an overhead from Bellingham to thank.
07:37 PM BST
119 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Toney very nearly seals the deal for England as they counter with Palmer and the Brentford man. He decides to go for glory from distance and it goes well over. Still it takes up some valuable seconds.
07:35 PM BST
117 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
This second half is all being played in the England half. There’s another fine cross from the right that nearly ends on the head of Hancko, but Walker, who hasn’t had one of his better games, does well to put the Slovak off.
07:34 PM BST
115 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Yet more Slovakia pressure as Boženík is played though in the inside-right channel in the box. There’s another ball on the pitch, it’s chaotic but the shot is well wide, hitting the side netting.
07:32 PM BST
114 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
More trepidation for England as Slovakia have a corner on the right. The ball is delivered into the box but Toney heads well clear at the near post. He has made an impression since coming on.
07:31 PM BST
Deeper and deeper
England getting, like the Madonna classic, deeper and deeper. But it’s a lot less fun to watch than listening to the song. Suspect there is more to come like Slovakia’s chance shortly before HTiET, especially with Eze playing as an unorthodox left wing-back.
Rice was moving stiffly for a while but looks to have jogged through the worst of it now. Fans pretty buoyant now but some nerves settling in. Going to be a long 15 minutes.
07:29 PM BST
111 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
It’s mostly Slovakia at the moment as England continue to sit back too much. Konsa gets in an important block. The ‘underdogs’ then get in another decent cross that Škriniar nearly gets on the end of...another warning sign and it would be good to see England step up a yard or two.
07:27 PM BST
110 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Free-kick for Slovakia after a Gallagher foul. It’s central and about 30 yards out. Can they create something from this?
No, is the answer as Tupta fires well over the bar - in rugby that would have been a good conversion, but alas, this is football. But, you feel a set piece is Slovakia’s best route back into this match.
07:24 PM BST
108 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Eze dances a merry dance on the left until Vavro bodychecks him and see yellow for his trouble.
07:22 PM BST
107 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
England still playing too deep and it’s inviting Slovakia onto them. It will be a nervous next 14 or so minutes if they continue like that.
07:21 PM BST
105 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Two changes for England: Kane and Bellingham off, Gallagher and Konsa on.
07:19 PM BST
Extra-time HT: England 2 Slovakia 1
It’s breaktime again. England are ahead, but if there is one worry it’s that they have sat back since the goal. That last Slovakia chance should shake them out of any complacency that the job is done.
07:18 PM BST
104 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
A warning sign for England as, for the first-time this half Slovakia ask serious questions of the England defence. Lobotka whips in a lovely, pacey ball to the back post that Pekarík nearly gets on the end of inside the six-yard box. That was close...
07:16 PM BST
103 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Bellingham is all action, a throw-in decision goes against him and he acts as though it’s the worst thing anyone has done to him. After that equaliser, I suppose, he can do what he wants...
07:14 PM BST
Toney: the super sub
Remarkable. Where was super sub Ivan Toney in all the predicted wished-for XIs before this match? Certainly nowhere near mine. He has had an immense 10 minutes of football at this Euros. Unsullied by the horror of what has gone before. He will be our new god. Maybe Gareth Southgate knows what he is doing after all?
Stadium suddenly feels 75 per cent England fans which it probably has been all along, they just have had so little to shout about before the Bellingham moment. Bouncing now, but let’s see how we’re faring after England attempt to sit on this lead for almost half an hour.
07:13 PM BST
100 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
England are in no rush to get up the other end of the pitch, they’re passing it around the back before a long ball ends up in the arms of Dubravka. Think it’s way too early for England to sit back.
07:12 PM BST
98 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
England just sitting back at the moment and Slovakia are seeing more of the ball. Lobotka is given too much space before the ball is then delivered from the left and Pickford comes a claims well.
07:09 PM BST
96 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
Toney has made a difference since he’s come on. He set up the Kane goal and has just proved himself to be a nuisance winning a free-kick on halfway.
07:08 PM BST
93 mins: England 2 Slovakia 1
What a turnaround. Slovakia now have to come out and attack England, something they haven’t had to do since the 25th minutes.
07:03 PM BST
GOAL!
England 2 Slovakia 1
Fifty-two seconds into extra-time and England are ahead thanks to the head of Harry Kane.
England have been on the ropes for most this match an in the matter of two minutes are now ahead. The ball is bounced into the box, Toney heads it towards the six-yard box and Kane has one of the easiest finishes he’ll ever have. They’ve left it late but Southgate’s side are, as it stands, heading to the last-eight.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? 😱
Harry Kane puts England in the lead at the beginning of extra time 🏴#Euro2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/knUPc2gabI— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
07:02 PM BST
90 mins: England 1 Slovakia 1
Extra-time is under way... buckle up for the next 30 minutes.
06:59 PM BST
Match heading to extra-time: England 1 Slovakia 1
Hands up if you saw that coming? If you have a raised arm then I might suggest you’re lying or Nostradamus.
England, so abject for all the match, pulled a rabbit out the hat thanks to Bellingham’s acrobatics.
Extra-time beckons.
06:54 PM BST
GOAL!
England 1 Slovakia 1
Bellingham with an overhead kick!
The equaliser wasn’t going to come until the moment it did. The ball comes in from the right (from a throw in), Guehi flicks it on and Bellingham with a peach of an bicycle kick, inside the box, that gives Dubravka no chance at all...that came with 85 seconds of added time left...
It was worth the wait.
WOW!
UNBELIEVABLE 🤩
Jude Bellingham pulls out an overhead kick to save England in the dying moments 🏴#EURO2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/px4qLzJQoq— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
06:54 PM BST
93 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Third change for England (leaving it a bit late, Gareth...) as Toney comes on for Foden.
06:53 PM BST
92 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Slovakia players, bar one, are all in their own half. And it’s no great shock to see England passing without any cutting edge.
Schranz, the goalscorer, makes way for Gyomber. That takes up yet more time England could do with trying to get the possibly never-to-be-seen equaliser.
06:51 PM BST
91 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Eze does well on the left and forces the corner.
How many more chances do England have left?
The set piece is delivered by the Palace player and once again it’s too deep allowing Dubravka to coming and punch clear.
06:50 PM BST
90 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Slovakia are on the attack now...but they are ponderous this time, doubtless trying to eek out time, and lose the ball.
06:49 PM BST
89 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
There will be six minutes of added time to go...can they do it?
06:48 PM BST
88 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
From the resulting set piece Slovakia again defend well, heading clear twice before Eze is penalised for a slight shove...
No shock to see the ‘underdogs’ take their time over the free-kick.
06:47 PM BST
86 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Still only two subs made by Southgate. There’s a PhD for someone there in trying to explain why.
Foden gets to the byline and cuts back well, but the ball is cleared for a corner...
06:46 PM BST
Five minutes to save the summer
I imagine Southgate and players might talk about fine margins after this game. Rice hitting the post may well be cited. The trouble is England should not need fine margins to get past Slovakia in the last 16 of a Euros. They are a good side, without doubt. Should this end how it looks like it will I do not put this down as comparable with the disaster of Iceland in 2016, which was genuine humbling by a pretty limited team. It would, of course, still be a disaster to lose this game and it feels like we’ve been watching it unfold in slow motion basically since the match began. Five minutes to save summer. And for Southgate to alter his legacy.
06:45 PM BST
84 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
England still with the vast majority of possession. Bellingham is fouled in the final third on the right. Can Foden deliver another good set piece?
‘NO’ - it’s too close to Dubravka who punches clear without being put under any pressure.
06:43 PM BST
83 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
It’s not TAA to come on it’s Eze, and Mainoo is the one to make way. Fewer than 10 minutes to save this match and tournament for England.
06:43 PM BST
82 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
It looks as though Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to come on. If anyone can find a defence-splitting pass then it’s him. No more aimless crosses please.
06:41 PM BST
80 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
So very nearly an equaliser for England. The ball comes out to Rice 25 yards out. Considering what he’s seen before, it’s no shock to see him try his luck. The Arsenal man swings his right boot and it hits the left post before coming out to Kane whose (very tough) follow up is over the bar...
You get the sense it’s not going to happen for England...
06:39 PM BST
79 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
It’s Bellingham’s turn to deliver a hopeful ball straight into the grateful arms of Dubravka...
06:39 PM BST
77 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
From the resulting set-piece Foden delivers another testing ball that finds the head of Kane. He has to score, he scores those in his sleep, with his eyes closed. BUT he heads wide, just wide, but it should have at least got it on target...ouch. And if anything sums up England in attack this match (and before) it’s that. Expectation is one thing, reality completely another...
06:37 PM BST
76 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Surely Southgate has to make more substitutions...? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results is insanity...
England still seeing a lot of the ball, and still doing very little with it. As I typed that Foden was fouled on the left flank. Free-kick for Southgate’s side...
06:35 PM BST
73 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
A little over 15 minutes plus added time to stay in the tournament.
And, as with all the match, it’s hard to see where England are going to find that all-important goal...
06:33 PM BST
Kane and England’s tournament (so far...)
06:32 PM BST
What’s the formation?
Would take a greater tactical mind than mine to explain what is going on tactically from England. Looks a bit like the victory formation in American Football when a team snaps the ball only to immediately kneel on it and end the game.
There are some defenders, definitely. One of them is Saka at left-back. Then Rice, sometimes Mainoo. Then everyone else in a flat line, nice and still, where the Slovakia defenders can see them.
It is not quite the siege you would hope for yet, but England are mostly on the ball and in advanced areas. Their crossing has been poor, like most of their performance.
06:31 PM BST
70 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
More of the same from England. Bellingham falls over in the box, the penalty appeal is more hopeful than an optimist buying a lucky dip Euromillions ticket, then it goes to Mainoo whose cross it straight at Dubravka (yet to make a save) in the Slovakia goal.
06:30 PM BST
68 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Foden, now on the right, delivers a ball from the flank and again, as with so often this match, it’s way too deep. Annoying? Yes. Surprising? No...
06:28 PM BST
66 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Just over 25 minutes to stay in the tournament. England are passing the ball around at the back and still looking for the runner, either in short or long. Patient is one way to look at it, another is ponderous.
But as I type that the ball comes into the box from the right and Foden nearly gets on the end of it.
Still no clear-cut chances created...
06:25 PM BST
64 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Now Palmer comes on for Trippier. Saka stays at left-back...
A fair portion of sarcasm in the cheers as Palmer takes off his tracksuit top. Still yet to come on as I type, so looking forward to the reaction if Southgate thinks twice and he has to put his top back on.
06:24 PM BST
63 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
BREAKING NEWS: Southgate is finally going to make a change. Palmer looks as though he’s coming on It looks as though Saka will move to left-back..But Tripper is back on...slightly chaotic...
06:23 PM BST
60 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Tripper is hurt following a challenge (that looked slightly overzealous) from Vavro.
06:21 PM BST
60 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Slovakia make changes before England...another shock...
Suslov and Bozenik come on for Haraslin and Strelec. You suspect that’s to allow the side to maintain the pace.
06:21 PM BST
59 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Can England create anything from this free-kick?
‘Nope’ is the long and short of it as Foden’s attempt is hit straight at the wall.
06:20 PM BST
58 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Free-kick for England after Mainoo is brought down in the edge of the box. Kucka is lucky he’s not shown red as he is on a yellow...the man in the man in the middle Meler was handing card out for fun earlier on in the game.
06:18 PM BST
56 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
In fairness to England they have upped the tempo and are occupying the thoughts of the Slovakian backline. But there still hasn’t been anything in the same ballpark as what someone would describe as ‘a chance’.
06:16 PM BST
53 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
HUGE let off for England. Yes, it was that HUGE that it demands caps-lock to be on. Stones is on the halfway and plays a pass to no one in particular, and Strelec is alive to the ponderousness and hits it first time with his left. It beats Pickford (who is off his line) but just, as in only just, goes wide of the right upright...
Had that gone in that would have summed up the tournament so far for England. At 1-0 they are still, somehow, in this...
06:14 PM BST
When will it click? In the next four years?
Zero changes at half-time is certainly an option. It is not one we were expecting but life is full of surprises. Is it going to change Southgate’s reputation as a cautious manager? Only the fates can decide.
Was he slightly vindicated by that offside goal? Trippier and Foden, two who weathered calls for replacement at points combining. Kane going close soon afterwards more optimism fuel. Maybe if England just stick with this it will all begin to click? Perhaps some time during the next European Championship in four years?
06:10 PM BST
HANG ON! GOAL DISALLOWED
Oh dear...
The ball was moved from the right by Kane to the onrushing Trippier who plays the ball across the box where Foden has the easiest finish. BUT the Man City man had (criminally) strayed into an offisde position and it’s as clear as day. He didn’t need to be so eager...just when you thought it couldn’t get worse...
Phil Foden thinks he's equalised for England but it's called offside ❌
Back to square one...#Euro2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/HjKCocuTlc— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
06:10 PM BST
GOAL!
England 1 Slovakia 1
Foden taps home from inside the six-yard box...
06:09 PM BST
49 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
By my reckoning England have already gone down three cul-de-sacs since the break. Stones has the ball at his feet and he waves his arms as if to say ‘make a run’.
06:08 PM BST
48 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
So England need to change the narrative of the game but three minutes in and it’s as you were, no runs in deep, not upping of the tempo...Slovakians will be smiling.
06:07 PM BST
46 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
‘No threat in the first 45 minutes? Let’s keep the same personnel out there’ isn’t what most would consider the best course of action.
More worrying ominous stats...(again, look away now if of a nervous disposition...)
England first half vs Slovakia (2024)
Trailing by: 1 Shots faced: 4 Expected goals against: 0.9
England first half vs Iceland (2016)
Trailing by: 1 Shots faced: 4 Expected goals against: 0.9
06:05 PM BST
45 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
NO CHANGES at the break. I repeat: NO CHANGES...
Make of that what you will. All I’ll say is, to quote the brilliant Pepper Brooks from Dodgeball: “It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ‘em.”
06:02 PM BST
Look away now if you’re a nervous England fan...
Yet another worrying stat to join the back of an ever-increasing queue.
0 - This is the first time England have failed to record a shot on target in the first half of a knockout stage game at a major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) since the 1986 World Cup quarter-final versus Argentina. Restricted. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/dVD1QsHeso
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2024
05:58 PM BST
‘Time to rip it all up’
The ITV boys aren’t holding back in their half-time analysis...
“He has got to throw reputations out the window, they weren’t together out there.”
05:57 PM BST
Gary Neville on ITV - ‘This has Iceland vibes all over’
“This has Iceland vibes written all over. It’s now or never for Gareth [Southgate]. Gareth has got to make three substitutions: Palmer, Trent and Gordon. Trent Alexander has to be on the pitch, it’s illegal that’s he not on that pitch.
05:54 PM BST
England need a quick turnaround - but it’s hard to see that happening
Well, this needs rescuing. Time for Southgate’s best Al Pacino, a stirring top-up speech from captain Kane and probably a boatload of subs. England are not in some unsolvable mess here, a bright start to the second half and an early goal will turn the mood around quickly. The trouble is you really struggle to see that happening.
The boos are unmistakeable at the half-time whistle, but not cacophonous. Think fans have reached the apathy stage. Mainoo has done his bit in general, and there was some mild cheer when his long shot went behind for a corner. Excitement raised for the corner which followed but snubbed out when it failed to lead to anything of substance. England go in behind and it all feels so familiar.
So much dawdling passing in useless areas after going behind and you could make a very upsetting video of misplaced or aimless passes from the back four especially. An unwelcome return to all of the pre-Southgate England symptoms which blighted millions of our childhoods.
05:52 PM BST
Half-time: England 0 Slovakia 1
England leave the pitch to another chorus of booooos...that’s fast becoming the soundtrack to their Euros.
It was another dispiriting 45 minutes where the worries about a limp, disjointed attack were joined by new ones surrounding a brittle back line. The two full-backs caught out a number of times.
There will surely have to be changes at the break...
Slovakia, meanwhile, are well deserving of their lead. They’ve looked composes at the back and dangerous in attack, never a bad combination.
05:49 PM BST
47 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Mainoo shows no fear as he runs at the Slovakia defence before unleashing a low shot that is defected wide for a corner.
Foden then delivers another peach of a set-piece that troubles the Slovakia defence, but England cannot get on the end of it.
05:48 PM BST
45 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
There will be three minutes of added time.
Meanwhile, Saka wins a free-kick in the final third on the right. Can England create anything from this?
The long and short of it is ‘nope’ as Foden delivers a decent, curling ball to the back post, but Slovakia are up to the challenge.
05:46 PM BST
44 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Guehi plays a hopeful long ball in the vague direction of Foden. It’s too long, however, and possession is gifted back to Slovakia. It’s all a bit bitty, nothing of substance in attack and Slovakia’s defence are yet to really be tested.
05:44 PM BST
42 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
You strongly think that there will be changes at half-time. Will Walker survive?
Meanwhile, England are seeing more of the ball but doing very little with it. Slovakia are, as they tend to do, pressing well and pressing high.
05:42 PM BST
Bellingham the one bright spot
Bellingham the one bright spot for England, a couple of times he has darted through the Slovakian defence and he looks the only player who has taken this position of adversity as a challenge. Still not having a particularly good game, but he seems spurred on by the situation, not intimidated.
Familiar signs of heavy shirt-itis elsewhere, England too slow, too cautious. Real “bad old days” stuff at the moment. Southgate is sat down. I don’t put much stock in manager barking out order in technical area as a sign of expert coaching but it is not helping with the passive vibe. Are England letting another disaster happen to them?
05:41 PM BST
37 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
More sustained pressure from England who are now getting more balls in the box. The latest missile finds the head of Rice who forces Dubravka to come off his line and punch clear.
It’s been a bit better from England these past 10 or so minutes, but there are still too many misplaced passes that’s preventing any real threat from the attack.
05:38 PM BST
35 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
Bellingham drives into the box on the left and earns a corner, afterwards he urges the fans to cheer for them, perhaps sensing the frustration brewing.
From the resulting corner comes another corner and from the next set piece the ref blows his whistle for an England foul.
05:36 PM BST
Worrying body language from England
Got to say the body language after the goal is pretty worrying from England. Lots of hands on hips, Stones gesturing to the bench, angry and confused, Guehi down in a heap in the box. It is only Pickford using the treatment time for Guehi how you would want, talking to his team-mates, looking his usual mix of amped up and livid. Kane and Walker having some chats but both doing the hand over mouth thing, lest thee lipreaders have a field day.
No great surprise that Slovakia have opened the scoring, England’s torpor since doing little to alter the increasingly gloomy outlook for Southgate.
05:34 PM BST
30 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
England see a bit of the ball and the worrying signs of a disjointed attack that plagued the group stage are once again evident here. People going short when the ball goes long, crosses that are deeper than an Oxford philosophy PhD...you can sense the frustration both on the pitch and in the stands.
The reaction by England fans to this display so far is withering. You can hear the groans as the defence once again slows the ball down, playing it backwards and sideways. When Jude Bellingham tries to whip the crowd into offering more vocal support, little arrives by way of response.
05:32 PM BST
28 mins: England 0 Slovakia 1
For all the criticism of the England attack during the group stages, the one bright spark was that the defence looked solid, having only conceded once (that a long shot in the Denmark game). So far tonight the backline has looked all at sea.
Having taken a knock in the build up to the goal Gueli is ok to continue.
05:26 PM BST
GOAL!
England 0 Slovakia 1
The warning signs have been there. It’s no shock to see Slovakia go 1-0 thanks to a cute finish from Schranz.
England have been too open from the start and once again they are sliced apart with ease. The ball is delivered from inside the Slovakia half. The marking is lax, with two England men getting in each other’s way, and the ball ultimately falls at the feet of Strelec who has the freedom of Gelsenkirchen to get his head up before playing an inside ball to the on-rushing Schranz. He’s clear and toe-pokes past an isolated Pickford.
That is a deserved opener for the ‘underdogs’
England are behind against Slovakia... 😳#Euro2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/B7P5KLvQd6
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
05:24 PM BST
22 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Better from England. Bellingham up the tempo (if there has been one (of many) criticism of them in attack it’s that they’ve been too ponderous...) He drives into the box before trying to set up Foden on the edge of the six-yard box. The ball then goes left and the cross finds the head of Kane at the back post, he header going just wide.
05:23 PM BST
20 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Walker is having a bit of a ‘mare’ at the moment. He’s been caught out twice already and now he’s given the ball away. Fortunately for him his team-mates win the ball back and he, and England fans, can breathe a sigh of relief.
05:21 PM BST
18 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Slovakia are looking more than lively in attack, they are countering well and Rice gets in a ‘proper tackle’ on Hancko, I think, with England again looking exposed in attack.
Southgate’s men have the ball in their own half and I can count five Slovaks there ready to pounce, the ‘underdogs’ most definitely not come to sit back.
05:18 PM BST
15 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
This is a very open match. If Slovenia was cagey, then is is definitely end-to-end. As I type the play is again stretched and Bellingham is caught out, he puts in a late tackle on Haraslin (who’s started brightly for Slovakia) and becomes the third England man to see yellow...another on a tightrope with a lot of the match still to play.
05:15 PM BST
11 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Another good chance for Slovakia after Walker, not for the first time, is caught on the inside (criminal for a full-back). Haraslín is in on goal and looks for all the world as though he’ll force Pickford into a save (or even find the back of the net) until Guehi makes a brilliant sliding block in the box.
Eleven minutes gone and to say there have been warning signs for Southgate’s men is like saying it was quite wet in Dortmund last night...
05:13 PM BST
Full-back problems for England
Two really poor passes from the full-backs some up that opening 10 minutes for England. The first one was Trippier playing it back to Guehi so waywardly the Palace defender had little option to foul and earn the yellow which will keep him out for the quarters if England make it. The second Walker on the other flank to set Slovakia away for the Haraslin cross-shot which went just wide. Both careless and highly frustrating balls. England cannot afford such wastefulness.
Interesting to see Trippier almost self-consciously get forward when he can, given how frequently that has been cited as one of the main issues with this team. He was spare on the left and ahead of most of his team when Bellingham had the ball shortly before his shot was blocked. A couple of times afterwards he was in lots of space and seemed to be ignored by his team. Now Bellingham spots him and the resulting shot probably tells you more than I can about Trippier’s attacking limitations.
05:11 PM BST
8 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Two attacks in a minute.
The first from Slovakia who are clearly carrying out instructions to get the ball into the box at every opportunity. This time the ball comes from the right and evades Strelec in the danger area.
Then the ball is up the other end of the pitch, at the feet of Trippier who hits it first time - but it’s a shot that goes well over the bar (as in it would have cleared about four double-decker buses...).
05:09 PM BST
6 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Better from England Mainoo and Saka combine well on the right to set up Bellingham, who’s crowded out on the edge of the box. The Real Madrid man is crowded out, before he can get a decent shot on target.
Mainoo is then shown a yellow for a stamp on Duda...he, too, now needs to be cautious...
05:07 PM BST
5 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
ANOTHER WARNING for England as Slovakia, who look confident and are passing the ball around well attack down the left, with Hancko free in the inside-left channel before firing just wide of the right post.
05:05 PM BST
4 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
From the resulting free-kick the Slovaks deliver a fine ball from the right and England looked stretched. There’s a Slovakian head on it and it goes wide. It wouldn’t have counted though, think there was a bit of pushing, but that’s an early warning...
05:04 PM BST
3 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
Tripper and Foden combine on the left, but they go down a cul-de-sac and Slovakia attack on the right, Guehi is isolated and brings down his man. For his trouble he’s shown a yellow card which means he’s on thin ice for the best part of 90 mins, and, should we get through, will miss the next match.
05:02 PM BST
2 mins: England 0 Slovakia 0
The high press from Slovakia is already in evidence as they press in numbers and forced England to pass back to Pickford in goal.
05:01 PM BST
1 min: England 0 Slovakia 0
They’re under way in the Ruhr, can England get their campaign up and running and remind everyone why they’re (still) one of the favourites? Or can Slovakia be this tournament’s Iceland-like banana skin? We’re about to find out.
England are in their traditional white and Slovakia in their blue number (think those were the colours the teams wore when we lost to Iceland eight years ago...don’t believe in omens, anyway...).
04:58 PM BST
National anthem time
Slovakia’s is sung with gusto and I couldn’t make out any boos, a good sign. Now for God Save the King, this is noticeably louder. An easy win for England in the singing stakes...
04:56 PM BST
A flat atmosphere?
Does seem flatter than you would expect with only 10 minutes before kick-off. Lots of empty seats at this stage and no widespread reports of transport misery so think some will stay that way. My read is a higher than usual number of neutrals in the crowd. The informal rule among travelling England fans is that advertising your club allegiance is permitted but only in the context of writing across at St George’s flags. If you’re wearing a shirt it’s England only.
Prevents local rivalries from spilling over to the national stage, but a handful of Arsenal and Liverpool shirts on display on the concourses. Think it is locals conflating being an “EPL” fan with an England fan when the two are quite different. Flags in my eyeline for Shrewsbury, Barnsley, Swindon and Derby among many others.
04:54 PM BST
Big news is that...
...Pickford is behind captain Harry Kane in the tunnel, so it looks as though he’s fine to start.
04:53 PM BST
The teams are in the tunnel
And we’re not too far from the big kick-off.
Can England finally turn up in this tournament? Let’s hope so.
04:52 PM BST
One man who can appreciate the pressure on Southgate...
...is Sven-Goran Eriksson. the former England manager is writing for Telegraph Sport throughout the tournament. Here’s his first offering (he’s confident of an England run this evening...).
READ: I don’t know how long I have left – it is better that way
04:48 PM BST
Ramsdale would be the man to come in
Aaron Ramsdale would be the replacement for Pickford, he has only started twice for his country in the past two years. The friendly defeat to Iceland three weeks ago and the 3-1 friendly win against Scotland in September 2023. Before that it was the low point of Southgate’s time in charge, the 4-0 defeat to Hungary at Molineux.
04:48 PM BST
More on Pickford...
Jordan Pickford did not look happy in the warm-up. He winced as he took off his gloves and was first back to the dressing room. In the last game there were touchline reports of him looking in discomfort during the warm-up but he was fine to play.
04:46 PM BST
No plastic-beer-cup shower if unthinkable does happen...
If the unthinkable does happen tonight, at least there is unlikely to be a repeat of the ugly scenes that saw beer cups thrown at Gareth Southgate after the last game and England players’ loved ones showered in lager. That appears to have had a direct impact on the re-imposition of the ban on drinking in the stands that was in place for England’s opening game against Serbia. The only difference today is that full-strength beer will be served at the ground, as opposed to the ‘shandy’ fans had to endure two weeks ago.
04:43 PM BST
Worry over Pickford?
We’ve just seen on ITV that the England goalkeeper appeared to have hurt his left hand during the warm-up...he looked in a fair bit of pain as he held it to his chest. He got a hug from back-up Aaron Ramsdale - the next 20 minutes will tell us whether that did the trick, or whether there will need to be a last-minute change.
04:35 PM BST
The match hasn’t even started and Southgate’s already been booed...
Teams and coaches have been read out over the PA system here at Arena AufSchalke. There were boos clearly heard when Gareth Southgate’s name was read out.
04:32 PM BST
Fancy a flutter on tonight’s game?
The interviews from players were very professional following group stage disappointment. Now it’s the knockouts the performances have to be equally as professional on the pitch. Back the Three Lions to dispatch Slovenia with these Euros betting offers
04:23 PM BST
Iceland 2016 or Denmark 2002?
Been wavering for the past few days between thinking this is going to be an Iceland 2016 or Germany 2010-style round-of-16 disaster or a Denmark 2002 or Senegal 2022 triumph. I do think there is a planned peak in performance and conditioning around this time for Southgate’s England. Treat the group stage as tune-up matches then go into the serious stuff of knockout football with a bit of extra oomph.
But there has just been so little to grab onto from the past three games which suggests this team is a coiled spring ready to unleash itself. Slovakia are dangerous, pulling off one of the results of the group stage by beating Belgium. I especially liked the look of their winger Lukas Haraslin when I saw them play Ukraine, a game they were in control of for most of the first half before losing their way (and the match) in the second. Despite him, I am coming down marginally on the side of thumping England win.
The teams are out for their warm-up, with a much bigger cheer for England’s emergence. Vindaloo on the PA. Money in the bank for Keith Allen.
04:21 PM BST
Full team news
ENGLAND XI TO FACE SLOVAKIA: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane.
Subs: Ramsdale, Henderson, Shaw, Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Dunk, Gallagher, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Palmer, Wharton.
Only one change, and it’s as expected and reported below, Mainoo in for Gallagher. That means that despite his impressive cameo Palmer has to be content with a place on the bench.
SLOVAKIA XI TO FACE ENGLAND: Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Strelec, Haraslin.
Subs: Rodak, Ravas, Obert, Rigo, Gyomber, Suslov, Bozenik, Tupta, Benes, Hrosovsky, De Marco, Duris, Bero, Sauer, Kosa.
Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona names an unchanged XI from the side who were held to a 1-1 draw by Romania in their last group-stage game.
04:17 PM BST
Young, talented and in the heart of the England XI
At 19 years and 72 days Kobbie Mainoo is the youngest player to start for England at a major tournament since Luke Shaw at the 2014 World Cup versus Costa Rica, his Man Utd team-mate was a fresh-faced 18 years and 347 days old.
04:14 PM BST
An impressive arena
Once you escape Gelsenkirchen and actually reach this stadium it is an impressive place. Oddly shallow stands, which would usually count against in the big stadium aesthete’s handbook, but they give it a looming scale. Roof is shut, so atmosphere should be extra-loud. And always a good challenge for an English player of any age to see if they can kick a ball onto something very high up in the air.
Stands at about 10 per cent occupancy but plenty flowing slowly onto the perimeter outside the ground. Atmosphere slightly muted thus far, but I’m sure some Bitburgers and 200 renditions of the Phil Foden song will help. Slovakia’s goalkeepers are out for their warm-up routine and greeted with friendly cheers from their flag-waving support behind the goal.
04:12 PM BST
Perfect weather conditions for England
England won’t be able to blame the heat if they don’t perform today. It was absolutely roasting in the region yesterday but the local thunderstorms that also hit nearby Dortmund last night, plus rain this morning, have conjured up the ideal playing conditions for Gareth Southgate’s side.
04:11 PM BST
Gareth Southgate speaks to ITV - ‘Signs it’s starting to come together’
On Mainoo starting..
“He used the ball really well [when he came on against Slovenia], that’s how he plays. He’ll help us get through the high press. He’s looked comfortable. He embraces the big occasions, he looks at ease in our environment. He can have a big impact.”
On keeping faith with the core of the starting XI...
“Those players over time have proven themselves to be our best. There have been signs it’s starting to come together in the last match and on training pitch. We have [good] players to come in [if needed].”
On Slovakia...
“We expect them to come onto us. They press high and we have to play through that and press them well.”
On what England need to win...
“Composure and resilience. As yesterday showed anything can happen and have to deal with whatever comes our way.”
04:06 PM BST
Cole Palmer not starting
He was the brightest spark in an otherwise poor performance against Slovenia. As a friend put it to me ‘he’s our player of the tournament and he’s only played 19 minutes!’. That’s possibly a bit OTT but it does reveal a lot about (i) How good the Chelsea player is, and, (ii) just how drab England have been this tournament.
So, is he unlucky? Well, it would be harsh to drop Saka and change a settled side. And it would be no shock to see Southgate possibly change things up earlier than usual should he deem a shake up is needed.
Expect him to have a big say later in the match if it isn’t going according to plan...
03:59 PM BST
Another note of warning
5 - England have won five of their six games against Slovakia – however, their one failure to defeat them was at EURO 2016 in their only previous major tournament meeting (a goalless draw in Saint-Étienne). Stage. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/HaDOryQ8TW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2024
03:57 PM BST
Jordan Pickford speaks to ITV – ‘We have to be ready for the fight’
On Mainoo starting...
“He’s been a revelation at Man Utd, he was great last season. He came on [against Slovenia] and made a big impact and deserves his start.”
On what England need to do...
“We’ve got to be ready for the fight but focus on ourselves...we’ve just got to win the game, end of story. It’s knockout football that’s what it’s all about.”
03:53 PM BST
England team news - Mainoo the only change
As Telegraph Sport reported Kobbie Mainoo is the one change Gareth Southgate has made.
Ready for the Round of 16! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/PmveLPu4hE
— England (@England) June 30, 2024
03:49 PM BST
Two famous faces getting into the spirit ahead of kick-off?
The first is definitely former England defender Rio Ferdinand. The second is a very good likeness of one of the UK premier quizhounds...
ENGLAND taking over Dusseldorf… love it! #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/hdIhGy4Gt2
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 30, 2024
Delighted my mates bumped into the legend @MarkLabbett from @ITVChase what a lovely man he is apparently.
Hope he recovers for tomorrows filming
Q. Capital of Germany 🇩🇪
A. I'm in Düsseldorf ❌ @itvfootball @GNev2 @IanWright0 pic.twitter.com/T6Mw8Pk7p1— Jason Duffy (@JasonDuffy12) June 30, 2024
03:45 PM BST
From optimism to a note of caution
Yep, while I try to be positive ray of sunshine there are some facts that are hard to escape.
England have only won twice in their past eight matches
They’ve looked limp and devoid of ideas in attack
They’ve seemed disjointed in midfield
So there needs to be some sort of change this match if an early exit is to be avoided. For all the talk of an ‘easy route to the final’ you cannot escape the fact that if England play as they did against Denmark and Slovenia they cannot expect to progress beyond this evening’s game. This is knockout football and the tournament ‘has to start now’.
03:36 PM BST
Another optimist is none other than...Roy Keane!
The ITV pundit and hard-to-please former Manchester United captain says:
“I think England will turn up today”
03:33 PM BST
It’s fair to say the mood among England fans hasn’t been overly optimistic...
But here’s one fan whose glass is definitely half full.
03:24 PM BST
Who would you pick for today’s must-win match?
We’re all brilliant armchair experts, aren’t we? We can see things some of the world’s best managers are blind to. Any club or country in need of a new person in the dugout? We’re all free, available and more than willing!
If only it was that easy...
Here’s who our stable of writers think Gareth Southgate should name for the match – do their picks match yours?
READ: England team vs Slovakia: Our writers pick their XIs for Euro 2024 match
02:52 PM BST
‘Pivotal moment’
Our chief football writer Sam Wallace as been speaking on BBC radio
Gareth Southgate has taken away a lot of the burden of playing for England. But we are at a pivotal moment now and a lot of it does point to what team he selects.
He is fighting his corner and trying to remind people of where England have come since Euro 2016 and that defeat to Iceland. I’m afraid in the bear pit of tournament football - and when a few drinks have been had - a lot of that tends to go out of the window.
02:40 PM BST
Tickets still available for tonight’s game
There are still tickets available for today’s game on Uefa’s official ticket portal. Indeed, in the last 24 hours, many appear to have become available, across all price categories. Uefa says the match had been sold out so they can only be ‘returns’ from those who do not want to go.
That may include those who gambled on their own country playing in this fixture but it could also include fans of England, or other nations, who simply have no interest in watching the game. At the time of writing, only tickets priced 250 and 500 euros are available on the site but that has fluctuated significantly over the course of the day.
02:11 PM BST
‘Vast numbers wearing England colours’
Was in Gelsenkirchen two weeks ago for the Serbia game and sad to report the town has not undergone a dramatic glow-up in that time. Still feels like walking around [insert rough League One outpost here], but it does appear to be more ready to welcome thousands of England fans today. The central fan “meeting point” in the city centre had double the number of food stalls as two weeks ago, so you won’t go short of a stomach-lining Bratwurst in your moment of need.
Have yet to encounter any England fans without a ticket for the game, which was quite different for Serbia. Plenty had come to that hoping to soak up wonderful vibes of a 40,000-capacity bespoke one-match-only fanzone on a racecourse. In the event the weather was vile, it turned into a swampy mudbath and there were about 2,000 people left by kick-off, myself included, An unforgettable evening but my shoes may never recover.
Round of 16 games can be the point where travelling support ebbs in a tournament. Fans of bigger teams expect to reach this stage, removing the novelty value, so many take a break after the group stage, return home then come back out for the quarters. Still vast numbers wearing England colours here but one sure sign that demand is not at its highest is the official Uefa ticket site. Three hours before kick-off and you can still buy one for tonight’s game.
01:16 PM BST
From man on the ground
Having arrived in Gelsenkirchen, there are already noticeable differences from before England’s first game against Serbia, which was marred by transport chaos. Volunteers have been placed outside the main station and are handing out information sheets containing train times. Fans are also here nice and early. The earlier kick-off should help avoid a repeat of people getting stranded after the Serbia match. But we’ll see…
It already feels like there are distinct lack of trams to the stadium. Unless the plan is to ramp up numbers significantly in the next hour or two, I can foresee people having similar problems getting to the game as last time.
01:05 PM BST
Head-to-head record
England head into tonight’s clash with a string of positive results under their belts from previous matches against Slovakia, whom they have beaten five times from their previous six encounters.
They are yet to suffer defeat to their last-16 opponents either, although the only time they failed to beat Slovakia was during their short-lived Euro 2016 campaign (painful memories for England fans), when Roy Hodgson’s men were held to a goalless draw in the group.
12:42 PM BST
The man in the middle tonight
Umut Meler will be on referee duties tonight for England vs Slovakia.
Meler was the referee who was attacked after officiating a Super Lig match between MKE Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor, which saw him hospitalised.
This incident led to a week-long suspension of all Turkish League Football. The Turkish referee is a strict enforcer of the law and demonstrates courage when he is officiating.
He’s been on the whistle twice so far in Germany, in Belgium’s group game against Slovakia and Poland’s group stage clash with Austria.
12:32 PM BST
Raducanu shows her support
Tennis star Emma Raducanu has shown support for England ahead of their Euro 2024 clash with Slovakia today.
Raducanu, is currently preparing to play at Wimbledon – with the British No 5 being put through her paces ahead of the tournament.
The 23-year-old appeared in high spirits throughout practice, with the Briton poised to face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round.
11:36 AM BST
Team guide: Slovakia
Let us take a closer look at England’s opponents.
Who is the star player?
Milan Skriniar. The 29-year-old has long been Slovakia’s best player since Marek Hamsik retired. The PSG centre-back can do a good job of marshalling their defence but will fall short in attack.
How do they play?
Francesco Calzona sets his side up in a 4-3-3 formation with full-backs going forward to make up for the lack of wingers in his squad. Skriniar runs a tight ship in defence after conceding just eight goals in qualifying. .
11:23 AM BST
Win lose or draw? Predict the score
How do you think England will fare in their last-16 match tonight against Slovakia? Remember you can have your say not just on tonight’s game but also for the tournament.
10:38 AM BST
Southgate prepares for last-16 tie
England are gearing up for their Euro 2024 last-16 clash against Slovakia, having reached the knock-out phase despite a string of poor performances.
A goalless draw with Slovenia in their last group game saw manager Gareth Southgate face disgruntled fans, with some hurling bottles and cups in his direction at full-time in Cologne, and he will be hoping his side can put in a much improved performance against Slovakia.
Southgate says he is “desperate to do well for my country” as his team prepare to play Slovakia.
England won Group C but have failed to impress in their first three matches having scored just two goals without providing a real threat.
But a victory in Gelsenkirchen tonight will set up a quarter-final against Switzerland and Southgate says his side have no fear of the knockout stage.
“It could be another brilliant night to create more memories for our supporters,” he said.
“I have played in a semi-final of a major tournament, and managed in a semi-final and a final. It is about the team progressing.
“We shouldn’t have a fear of losing, it’s about opportunity. We are trying to reach for something which is a challenge.
“We have lost matches before, life goes on. At that point when you can handle the worst you are free to try and go and win the game.”
Southgate is likely to resist making sweeping changes to his team facing Slovakia tonight but is ready to start Kobbie Mainoo in the last-16 clash.
The England manager has faced calls to change up his forward line and give others a chance following three lacklustre performances in the group stage, but is understood to be reluctant to rip up his original attacking plan.
Mainoo has pushed for a place following his second-half display in the last game against Slovenia, with the Manchester United teenager, 19, in line to replace Conor Gallagher in midfield.
We will have all of the build-up to tonight’s match so make sure you stay with us all day! Do not go anywhere!
