Late drama as England scrape past Slovakia

The forensic examination was about to begin. The fallout would be toxic, likely more so than the summer of 2016, when the Three Lions crashed out of the European Championships with a shocking defeat to Iceland in the round of sixteen. If there was one thing that could shift Thursday’s General Election off tomorrow’s front pages, it would be an England exit.

Sam Allardyce’s 67 days in charge followed the Iceland defeat and featured just one game. A 1-0 win over Slovakia, incidentally. But after Allardyce resigned in disgrace, Gareth Southgate took charge, first on an interim basis. After a remarkable seven-and-a-half years, the 53-year-old’s tenure looked set to end in a manner that was somewhat ‘full circle’, but out of nowhere, Jude Bellingham ensured that many reporters’ notes were left on the cutting room floor.

England’s group stage performances were very disappointing for most fans. One bright spark was the performance of Kobbie Mainoo in the second half against Slovenia. He had earnt his place in the starting XI, the nineteen-year-old replacing Gallagher as the only alteration from Tuesday night. The change in England’s overall performance was similarly minimal.

Their first half performance was their worst of the summer. England lacked any sort of threat up front, whilst being all at sea at the back.

England’s start, like that of referee Halil Meler who booked Guéhi, Mainoo, Kucka and Bellingham all before a fifth of the game had been played, was nervy at best. The majority of early chances had fallen to Slovakia, Hancko flashing a shot wide after five minutes, before Guéhi spared England colleague Kyle Walker’s blushes by making a crucial block to deny Lukáš Haraslín, who had run in behind the Manchester City captain,

Harry Kane would have the Three Lions’ first real chance of the game 23 minutes in, his glancing header from Kieran Trippier’s cross out off a Slovakian defender at the back post.

Slovakia’s goal came just two minutes later, the move beginning with a long ball over the top from Denis Vavro, who had drifted out to a right back position. This was headed on to Strelec on the edge of the England box before the winger played a smart reverse ball to Ivan Schranz. Overlapping to Strelec’s right, he tucked the ball into the bottom left corner. Francesco Calzona’s side had a deserved lead, which they would take into the break. Ghosts of Iceland were beginning to appear.

Gary Neville, who was part of Roy Hodgson’s coaching staff in Nice that night was on ITV urging Southgate to be bold in his half time changes, with three substitutions needed. But Southgate stuck to his guns, and the result was largely, more of the same.

Phil Foden would find the back of the net five minutes after the break. Harry Kane sprayed a ball out left to Trippier, who played it across the six-yard-box for Foden to tap in. But the Premier League Player of the Season was offside: England were still behind.

And a few minutes later, English hearts were in mouths, Slovakia gifted the chance to double their advantage. Kyle Walker’s pass across the backline was intercepted by Stelec, who saw Pickford off his line and attempted to lob him from 50 yards out, but saw his effort go just wide.

Gareth Southgate would eventually make a change in the 66th minute. With England still chasing the game, and yet to have a shot on target, the manager’s decision was necessarily brave. Off came Kieran Tripper, with Bukayo Saka moving to left back, a position he played as a youngster for Arsenal, and Cole Palmer introduced on the right flank. It was an attacking switch, and made England more threatening.

Meeting Phil Foden’s free kick to the near post, England skipper Kane would glance another header wide in the 78th minute. Declan Rice would go closer three minutes later, rattling Dúbravka’s right-hand post from 25 yards after fashioning himself some space before Kane fired the rebound over. England were knocking on the door at last, but couldn’t find a way in.

After Eberechi Eze replaced Kobbie Mainoo in the 84th minute, Ivan Toney was England’s third introduction in the fourth minute of stoppage time. A final roll of the dice, the Brentford striker replaced Phil Foden. His major tournament debut was set to be short, and by no means sweet, but that would soon change.

Kyle Walker held the ball behind his head, stood on the right sideline, roughly level with the penalty spot. If England were going to get an equaliser, it had to be now. The full back hurled the ball over his head and towards the near post. Marc Guéhi was there and flicked the ball on with the back of his head. Then came the moment from England’s Galactico. He may have been quiet since scoring against Serbia two weeks ago, but as he showed time and time again in the shirt of Los Blancos last season, he’s a man for the big moments, and one with a liking for late goals. Two stoppage time El Clásico winners, anyone?

The number ten had done it again, this time for his country, with a right-footed bicycle kick into the bottom right corner. Who else?

Bellingham marked his 18th birthday by sitting on the bench as England knocked Germany out of Euro 2020. Albeit a day late, this was not a bad way to mark his 21st. With 85 seconds to play, He had saved England’s summer, for another half hour or so, at least.

Those final moments played out followed by a break of a couple of minutes ahead of extra time. But many fans still hadn’t caught their breath when Harry Kane headed in the eventual winner 52 seconds into the additional half hour.

Cole Palmer’s free kick from the right was headed away before the ball was sliced back into the box by Eze. Ivan Toney headed it across to Kane, who triggered pandemonium amongst the England fans. It was a great combination between Southgate’s substitutes, finished off by the skipper.

Peter Pekarík perhaps should have scored when he beat Eze, now filling in at left back, to the ball in the 105th minute, but volleyed it just over the bar. But otherwise, Slovakia never truly troubled Pickford, despite having a number of shots in the final 15 minutes – meaning England will face Switzerland in Düsseldorf on Saturday.

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Analysis: A memorable win: now time for a back three?

The full-time rendition of Sweet Caroline in Gelsenkirchen felt a little subdued, a Bittersweet Symphony, you could say. England had made it through but had hardly inspired confidence from their supporters. Many had seen Slovakia as a very fortunate last sixteen tie, yet for ninety minutes England barely showed up, with Bellingham’s goal their first shot on target.

Luck is a key component of what is needed to win major tournaments, and England aren’t the first team to get some this summer. But in turning the game around from being Iceland 2.0 and surely the end of Southgate’s reign, to being on course for his 100th game in charge on Saturday in a matter of minutes, they used a fair slice. Swiss fans won’t exactly have been watching the game in fear.

With Marc Guéhi now suspended as a result of receiving his second booking of the tournament, Gareth Southgate will be forced to make at least one change. With Kieran Trippier having gone off injured it will likely be multiple. Guéhi’s introduction, lest we forget, was enforced due to an injury to Harry Maguire, and yet he has slotted into the side as though he has been there for years. He’ll be a big miss.  Likewise, Bukayo Saka barely put a foot wrong at left back, another move I felt was improbable until Southgate was somewhat forced into it. This also allowed Cole Palmer to be unleashed, whilst Saka provided the natural width on the left that I’ve been going on about for the last couple of weeks.

Concerns around his defensive skills will remain, but Saka on the left and Palmer on the right was a dangerous combination and provided balance to the team. They both should start in Düsseldorf.

Perhaps the optimal role for Saka would be one of left wing back, with Walker, Stones and Guéhi a back three. This would also allow one of Kieran Trippier or Trent Alexander-Arnold to return to right wing back, a more natural position than they have occupied throughout the tournament.

One of England’s biggest strengths at Euro 2020 was adapting to the opposition, and with Switzerland playing a back three, could now be the time for a change of shape to match them up?

England (4-2-3-1): Pickford (GK); Walker, Stones, Guéhi, Trippier (Palmer 66’); Mainoo (Eze 84’), Rice; Saka, Bellingham (Konsa 106’), Foden (Toney 90+4’); Kane (C) (Gallagher 106’).

Slovakia (4-3-3): Dúbravka (GK); Pekarík (Tupta 109’), Vavro, Škriniar (C), Hancko; Kucka (Bero 81’), Lobotka, Duda (Bénes 81’); Schranz (Gyömbér 90+3’), Strelec (Boženík 61’), Haraslín (Suslov 61’).