Harry Kane puts England in the lead against Slovakia at Euro 2024 and England fans go wild
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UEFA will investigate England player Jude Bellingham for alleged indecent conduct after he was seen grabbing his crotch while looking out at the crowd after the Euro 2024 last-16 win over Slovakia.
England were lucky to barely hold on to win 2-1 after a final bicycle kick from Bellingham sent the game into extra time and Harry Kane headed in the winner.
Bellingham’s aggressive goal celebration was clearly an angry message to England fans, while his crotch gesture was seen by some as an insult to Slovakia, but Bellingham said on social media that he was just having a laugh with friends.
“It was an inside joke between close friends who were at the game. I have nothing but respect for the way the Slovak team played tonight,” he said.
England beat defending champions Italy 2-0 on Saturday and will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
Southgate has a lot of questions to answer ahead of the quarter-final and will be anxiously awaiting the fitness of Kieran Trippier, who battled injury before the game and was substituted in the 66th minute after a heavy tackle.
Check out the latest updates and reactions from England’s last-16 match below.
England Euro 2024 Updates
Jude Bellingham faces possible suspension for lewd behaviour during celebrationEngland to face Switzerland in Euro 2024 quarter-finalsGareth Southgate injured while waiting for Trippier in Switzerland matchShocking Latest Updates1719925142
Gareth Southgate says England have found their Paul Gascoigne moment at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate believes Jude Bellingham’s goal against Slovakia will be the catalyst for England’s tournament, similar to Paul Gascoigne’s goal against Scotland at Euro 96, and stressed that it will make people forget the legend of that tournament and the 1990 World Cup’s poor initial performance.
“It definitely gives confidence to the whole squad,” he said. “The players who have come out and contributed have had a massive impact on what we do, it’s the unity and spirit that we need.”
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 13:59
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Trent Alexander-Arnold could dispel Gareth Southgate myths with England’s obvious change
The Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment is over. It’s time for a new Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment. The Liverpool vice-captain seems a misunderstood and under-utilised talent at international level. His 123 minutes in midfield against Serbia and Denmark were such a momentous, scientific journey of discovery that it earned a status in itself. It was an experiment.
That it was deemed a failure was clear when Gareth Southgate picked Declan Rice’s successive partners against Slovakia – Coby Mainu for technique, Conor Gallagher for effort, Jude Bellingham for the overhead kick – and there was no scenario that called for Alexander-Arnold.
As a midfielder, he was not. But Alexander-Arnold was sorely needed for what he was: a revolutionary right-back, a consummate creator, a player capable of doing extraordinary things. That seemed to change when Gary Neville, until a few weeks ago England’s most capped right-back, said it was “illegal” that Alexander-Arnold wasn’t playing. “He’s the best footballer this country has ever seen at right-back,” Neville said. It was a more ordinary gift that acknowledged the extraordinary.
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 13:32
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Pickford praises England’s ‘golden boy’
Jordan Pickford has paid tribute to “golden boy” Jude Bellingham, who rescued England from an eventful Euro 2024 last-16 tie against Slovakia.
The Euro 2020 runners-up were on the brink of a similar humiliating exit to Iceland eight years ago after an unconvincing win in Group C and what would have been Gareth Southgate’s final game as manager.
England looked set to cancel out Ivan Schranz’s crafty Slovakia opener but looked set to fail, with Phil Foden’s goal ruled out for offside by VAR, Harry Kane missing a golden chance and Declan Rice’s effort hitting the post.
But Real Madrid star Bellingham scored a surprising equaliser five minutes into added time and Kane headed home early in extra time to give Southgate’s side a 2-1 victory.
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 13:00
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Jude Bellingham faces possible ban over gesture towards crowd during England’s Euro 2024 win
Jude Bellingham faces a possible ban from Euro 2024 after UEFA launched an investigation into the celebration of Bellingham’s spectacular overhead kick in Sunday’s last-16 win over Slovakia.
After the goal, Bellingham ran towards the England fans, shouting: “Who else is there?”, and video showed the Real Madrid forward kissing the fan’s hand and grabbing his groin in a gesture that appeared to be directed towards the pitchside.
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 12:28
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Jude Bellingham has brought relief but cannot hide England’s major flaws
“I believed from the start that we would score, I just didn’t think it would be so late. I wasn’t ready to go home yet and obviously the players felt the same way.”
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 12:27
1719919631
Gareth Southgate’s straitjacket suffocates England again but one lesson emerges
There was one minute left of Gareth Southgate’s reign and the clock was ticking on what looked to be a dismal tournament and a demoralising end to the second-best tenure of any England manager.
That is, until Jude Bellingham stepped in mid-air. Bellingham highlighted the talent, technique and temperament that made him a bright prospect. There was a reason why Southgate had substituted him. Having been booked for a reckless lunge at Lucas Halaszlin, he foolishly put his hand to the referee. He was enduring a terrible game.
But there were also great moments: the bicycle kick, the stoppage-time equaliser, the lifeline and the goal that could have rewritten England history and the Southgate era.
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 12:27
1719919587
Gareth Southgate’s straitjacket suffocates England again but one lesson emerges
There was one minute left of Gareth Southgate’s reign and the clock was ticking on what looked to be a dismal tournament and a demoralising end to the second-best tenure of any England manager.
That is, until Jude Bellingham stepped in mid-air. Bellingham highlighted the talent, technique and temperament that made him a bright prospect. There was a reason why Southgate had substituted him. Having been booked for a reckless lunge at Lucas Halaszlin, he made the foolish move of putting his hand to the referee. He was enduring a terrible game.
But there were also great moments: the bicycle kick, the stoppage-time equaliser, the lifeline and the goal that could have rewritten England history and the Southgate era.
Sonia TwiggJuly 2, 2024 12:26
