GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – 

England’s Jude Bellingham was not only proud to score a last-gasp bicycle kick equalizer to help save his side from elimination in its Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Slovakia, but also to silence what he thinks is unjustified criticism of the team.

England was unable to get a foothold against a relentless Slovakian side that took the lead with an Ivan Schranz strike on the counter in the 25th minute, but Bellingham’s effort took the match to extra time, with Harry Kane heading home for a 2-1 win.

GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – 

England’s Jude Bellingham was not only proud to score a last-gasp bicycle kick equalizer to help save his side from elimination in its Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Slovakia, but also to silence what he thinks is unjustified criticism of the team.

England was unable to get a foothold against a relentless Slovakian side that took the lead with an Ivan Schranz strike on the counter in the 25th minute, but Bellingham’s effort took the match to extra time, with Harry Kane heading home for a 2-1 win.

“In international football, in knockout football, it’s even a worse feeling because you’re 30 seconds from going home and have to listen to all the rubbish, feeling like you’ve let a nation of people down,” Bellingham told a news conference.

“But in 30 seconds, one kick to the ball and everything can change … It’s a feeling that I never want and I don’t like to be in. But when it’s done, it feels great.

“Playing for England is an enjoyable feeling, but it’s also a lot of pressure. People talk a lot of rubbish, and it’s nice that, when you deliver, you can give them a little bit back,” the player of the match added in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday

“It’s very difficult to come to these press conferences and interviews and talk as openly as footballers want to because we’re always judged.

“And, for me, playing football and being on the pitch, scoring goals, celebrating, it’s how I release, it’s maybe a message to a few people.”

Bellingham did not think it was the best goal he has ever scored but said it was one of his most emotional moments on a pitch. He believed England had “in general a good performance” and was proud of the team’s character when its back was against the wall.

“I think in knockout football, when you can produce a moment like that, and everyone kind of looks around at each other and realizes that’s the spirit we actually have got in that team, it can help a lot,” Bellingham said.

“Playing for England should be one of the most proud things of footballer’s career. But often at times it’s quite difficult, there’s really high intense pressure, the fans expect a lot from us regardless of kind of what happened in recent tournaments years and years ago.

“So people talk a lot and I think you do have to take it personally a little bit. I do. We work so hard and sometimes it doesn’t go well. Sometimes it feels like there’s a bit of a pile-on (from critics) and you can always use it. And for moments like that it’s nice to kind of throw it back to some people.”

England manager Gareth Southgate looked set to fall on his sword after steadfastly refusing to make changes to a side that stumbled through as the winner of Group C despite scoring just two goals in three games.

Kobbie Mainoo was introduced for his first competitive start in Southgate’s only change, and the manager paid the price with another lackluster display that lacked speed or invention for long spells.

“We want to be better,” Southgate said. “I’m not going to hide from that, but the spirit and character was there for everybody to see, and we’re still in there fighting.”

The one saving grace of England’s performances in the group stage was that its makeshift defense held up well, conceding just once in three games.

However, it was torn to pieces early on by a Slovakian side ranked 45th in the world.

England did not heed a couple of warnings as David Hancko and Lukas Haraslin were wasteful with big chances.

Slovakia finally punished its more illustrious opponent when David Strelec was given room to turn and play in Schranz, who confidently scored past Jordan Pickford for his third goal of the tournament.

The halftime whistle was met with a chorus of boos, but Southgate still stuck to his guns and did not make a change until 25 minutes to go.

Slovakia should have doubled its lead when England gave away possession and Strelec saw Pickford well off his line, but the Slovakian failed to hit the target.

Southgate’s hand was finally forced in the 66th minute by an injury.

But England still struggled to create and looked down and out when Kane headed a golden opportunity wide and Declan Rice smashed the post with a long-range pot shot.

Southgate was even derided by England supporter for bringing on Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing.”

There was an incredible twist, however, as Bellingham acrobatically saved his team from disaster.

“In international football, in knockout football, it’s even a worse feeling because you’re 30 seconds from going home and have to listen to all the rubbish, feeling like you’ve let a nation of people down,” Bellingham told a news conference.

“But in 30 seconds, one kick to the ball and everything can change … It’s a feeling that I never want and I don’t like to be in. But when it’s done, it feels great.

“Playing for England is an enjoyable feeling, but it’s also a lot of pressure. People talk a lot of rubbish, and it’s nice that, when you deliver, you can give them a little bit back,” the player of the match added in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday

“It’s very difficult to come to these press conferences and interviews and talk as openly as footballers want to because we’re always judged.

“And, for me, playing football and being on the pitch, scoring goals, celebrating, it’s how I release, it’s maybe a message to a few people.”

Bellingham did not think it was the best goal he has ever scored but said it was one of his most emotional moments on a pitch. He believed England had “in general a good performance” and was proud of the team’s character when its back was against the wall.

“I think in knockout football, when you can produce a moment like that, and everyone kind of looks around at each other and realizes that’s the spirit we actually have got in that team, it can help a lot,” Bellingham said.

“Playing for England should be one of the most proud things of footballer’s career. But often at times it’s quite difficult, there’s really high intense pressure, the fans expect a lot from us regardless of kind of what happened in recent tournaments years and years ago.

“So people talk a lot and I think you do have to take it personally a little bit. I do. We work so hard and sometimes it doesn’t go well. Sometimes it feels like there’s a bit of a pile-on (from critics) and you can always use it. And for moments like that it’s nice to kind of throw it back to some people.”

England manager Gareth Southgate looked set to fall on his sword after steadfastly refusing to make changes to a side that stumbled through as the winner of Group C despite scoring just two goals in three games.

Kobbie Mainoo was introduced for his first competitive start in Southgate’s only change, and the manager paid the price with another lackluster display that lacked speed or invention for long spells.

“We want to be better,” Southgate said. “I’m not going to hide from that, but the spirit and character was there for everybody to see, and we’re still in there fighting.”

The one saving grace of England’s performances in the group stage was that its makeshift defense held up well, conceding just once in three games.

However, it was torn to pieces early on by a Slovakian side ranked 45th in the world.

England did not heed a couple of warnings as David Hancko and Lukas Haraslin were wasteful with big chances.

Slovakia finally punished its more illustrious opponent when David Strelec was given room to turn and play in Schranz, who confidently scored past Jordan Pickford for his third goal of the tournament.

The halftime whistle was met with a chorus of boos, but Southgate still stuck to his guns and did not make a change until 25 minutes to go.

Slovakia should have doubled its lead when England gave away possession and Strelec saw Pickford well off his line, but the Slovakian failed to hit the target.

Southgate’s hand was finally forced in the 66th minute by an injury.

But England still struggled to create and looked down and out when Kane headed a golden opportunity wide and Declan Rice smashed the post with a long-range pot shot.

Southgate was even derided by England supporter for bringing on Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing.”

There was an incredible twist, however, as Bellingham acrobatically saved his team from disaster.