Cometh the moment, cometh the man. Jude Bellingham’s scissor kick just 85 seconds to the end of added time saved England’s Euro 2024 blushes before skipper Harry Kane netted in the first minute of extra time to earn a 2-1 victory over Slovakia and the Three Lions a quarter final place.
Bellingham’s goal was the perfect gift for the Primera Liga player of the season who had celebrated his 21st birthday 24 hours earlier and saved Gareth Southgate’s side from the ignominy of losing to a side ranked 43 places below them by world football governing body, Fifa.
If he continues in his current vein of form, the Real Madrid midfielder will be a strong contender to win the Ballon D’Or which is awarded to football’s best individual player each season.
His strongest competition is likely to come from his team mate at the Santiago Bernabeu, Vinicius Junior, who like Bellingham won a Liga Santander and Champions League double and netted twice as Brazil pummelled Paraguay 4-1 at the Copa America.
The Three Lions next hurdle is Murat Yakin’s Switzerland who dismissed Luciano Spalletti’s Italy 2-0 on Saturday night thanks to goals from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas.
Spain justified hype surrounding their one hundred percent winning record at the tournament by clobbering Georgia 4-1 via goals from Rodrigo Cascante Hernandez ‘Rodri’, Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz and fast improving winger Nico Williams. La Roja boss Luis de la Fuente’s reward is a quarter final date with Julian Nagelsmann’s Die Mannschaft, 2-0 winners over Denmark via goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala.
Camera are to be zoomed in on Qatar World Cup top scorer Kylian Mbappe Lottin today when twice champions France face Belgium in Dusseldorf. The Real Madrid bound star is yet to break his tournament duck. So is the case for Red Devils record scorer Romelu Lukaku who has had three goals controversially chopped off by VAR.
All time European Championships top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo will try to extend his record haul of 14 goals when Portugal battle Slovenia in Frankfurt. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and Atletico Madrid custodian Jan Oblak are Slovenia’s go to players.
RESULTS
Germany 2-0 Denmark,
Switzerland 2-0 Italy,
England 2-1 Slovakia AET,
Spain 4-1 Georgia
TODAY
Portugal v Slovenia,
France v Belgium
TOMORROW
Romania v Holland,
Austria v Turkey