Saved by the Bellingham

AN EVENING of agony ended in pure ecstasy for England football fans last night - thanks to a heroic goal from Jude Bellingham.

-  Giles Sheldrick

England looked doomed to crash out of Euro 2024 in Germany as Slovakia led 1-0 in injury time.

But an amazing overhead kick from Bellingham, with no more than a minute to play, made sure the game went to extra time.

A rejuvenated England pounced again within a minute of the added period when skipper Harry Kane headed in a goal to give them a 2-1 lead that they managed to hold on to as Slovakia pressed to equalise.

Fans at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen including singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran - and millions watching on TV at home were ecstatic as England went through to the quarter-finals. The relieved crowd sang Sweet Caroline while manager Gareth Southgate hugged his shattered players.

England will play Switzerland in the next round in Dusseldorf on Saturday but they will know they will need to play much better than they did last night.

Brilliance

The team laboured to produce a reply after Slovakia scored early through Ivan Schranz and it was only Bellingham's last-minute flash of brilliance that saved the day.