England somehow avoid Slovakia humiliation - but questions for Southgate still stand

THE knives were sharpened and the inquest was ready to start. The list of questions that Gareth Southgate would have to answer was endless

And it would, for England's boss, have been the most painful and humiliating goodbye.

Iceland take two? Well, for context, Iceland were ranked 34th in the world when they sent England packing eight years ago. Slovakia are ranked 45th.

And yet Francesco Calzona's side were just seconds away from the greatest result in the nation's history. But thanks to Jude Bellingham's acrobatics and right boot in the 95th minute and Harry Kane's head just 52 seconds into extra time, Southgate and England live to fight another day. Somehow.

The questions remain but so too do England in the European Championships. Instead of heading for home today as looked a certainty until Bellingham's stunning 95th minute equaliser to cancel out Ivan Schranz's 25th minute opener, Southgate's side are preparing for Saturday's quarter-final against Switzerland.

They quite simply need to improve, though. and Southgate surely needs to make changes. Despite the victory, the questions for the manager still stand.

Why did he start with the same system? Why didn't he act on the grim group showings? And why on earth the lack of subs? Was Anthony Gordon's chin graze worse than first feared?

England desperately lacked pace, urgency and ideas and yet Newcastle's forward - who has provided all of the above all season on Tyneside - sat and waited.

Slovakia sat deep and defended, untroubled, Martin Dubravka untested.

There was one change before 83 minutes - and it was forced, Kieran Trippier hobbling off and replaced by Cole Palmer. Eberechi Eze was brought on seven minutes from time and when Ivan Toney was introduced deep into stoppage time, England had still remarkably not yet managed a shot on target.

Had that not changed in the seconds that followed, Southgate's exit would almost certainly have been confirmed in the hours and days that followed.

As Toney charged for the penalty box after being introduced 94 minutes in, Jordan Pickford must have been sorely tempted to follow. Desperate times call for desperate measures. But big players come up with big moments and Bellingham's stunning overhead kick will undoubtedly go down in history.

Marc Guehi - suspended for the last eight clash after being booked early on by card-happy referee Umut Meler - flicked on Kyle Walker's long throw and Bellingham provided the brilliant finish.

The only time Slovakia's goal had been troubled before that was when Phil Foden had the ball in the net soon after half-time but the Manchester City forward had strayed ahead of Trippier and was offside when he tapped in the Newcastle full-back's cross.

That England had started the second half unchanged was surprising to say the least. The opening 45 minutes had been a repeat of the boring grind through the group stages.

Despite topping Group C, England put in three average performances yet Southgate once again resisted the temptation to make mass changes, with Kobbie Mainoo’s introduction the only alteration.

One change - but no change where England were concerned. For so long they were slow, laboured, predictable, booed and deservedly behind at the break.

A long ball forward was not dealt with by the England defence and David Strelec slipped in Schranz to score his third goal of the finals on 25 minutes.

And that looked set to be that. England huffed and puffed but created next to nothing until the most dramatic finale - which was followed by the perfect start to extra time.

Stunned Slovakia looked out on their feet and it did not take England long to capitalise when Kane headed home a flick-on from late substitute Toney to turn the tie on its head.

Humiliation avoided. It'll be 100 games not out for Southgate against Switzerland. After this great escape, his side must improve to ensure it's not his last.