England Vows To Support Southgate Following Euro 2024 Nail-Biter

England narrowly avoided an early exit from Euro 2024 thanks to Jude Bellingham's last-minute heroics. Declan Rice emphasised the team's commitment to protecting manager Gareth Southgate. Ivan Schranz's first-half goal had Slovakia poised for a surprise win, but Bellingham's stunning 94th-minute equaliser in Gelsenkirchen changed the game.

Rice highlighted the significance of Bellingham's goal, which came at 94 minutes and 34 seconds, marking England's latest goal in European Championship history. "It was a big moment for him, at 21 years old—that takes a lot of guts," Rice said. He also joked, "If that was me, that was going over the bar."

Harry Kane then headed home just 50 seconds into extra time at Arena AufSchalke on Sunday, securing England's place in the quarter-finals. This victory means England have now won their last four games after conceding first at the European Championship, a stark contrast to their previous record of losing their first six such matches.

Rice expressed his pride in representing England during such crucial moments. "I cannot describe the feeling representing England in the European Championship round of 16," he told BBC Sport. "You look up at the clock and you think 'we could be going home here'. Players are saying that to each other with one minute to go and there is that inner fight and spirit in us."

Bellingham’s overhead kick not only sent the match into extra time but also etched his name into England folklore. Harry Kane described it as one of the country's best goals in history. The dramatic equaliser showcased Bellingham’s bravery and determination.

Rice acknowledged the difficulty of achieving such feats against top-tier opponents. "People don't understand what you have to go through to get over the line," he said. "We are not playing against invisible men. They are top footballers; they kept going after us."

Fan Support

The support from fans was also crucial for England's morale. Rice expressed his gratitude: "The fans tonight—I cannot speak highly enough of them. So grateful they are all here to experience that." The atmosphere created by supporters played a significant role in motivating the team.

Post-Match Reactions

After the match, Rice was involved in a confrontation with Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona, reflecting England’s celebratory mood as they prepared for their next challenge against Switzerland on Saturday in Dusseldorf.

Calzona felt his team matched England’s performance and was disappointed with how events unfolded. "We played on par basically with England; we almost qualified," he told reporters. "We were very nearly there; unfortunately, things went the way they did."

"I'm very proud to see this team do so well," Calzona added, noting how close Slovakia came to advancing further in the tournament.

This victory underscores England’s resilience and determination under Southgate’s leadership as they continue their Euro 2024 campaign.