England narrowly escaped a potential disaster in the Euro 16 round of 16, beating Slovakia in extra time after a dramatic last-minute equaliser. While the victory was celebrated, the overall performance fell short of expectations, leading to harsh criticism from the media, with manager Gareth Southgate facing the brunt of the backlash.
The Daily Mail declared, “The Comeback Kings! Bellingham and Kane combine to pull the Three Lions back from the brink and avoid a potential humiliation. Despite tactical flaws, England’s resilience, grit and passion were undeniable.”
The Sun, describing the victory as a “near-death experience”, directly criticized Southgate’s substitution choices: “Southgate waited for an hour before making changes with a flat performance, and the much-anticipated Phil Foden was underwhelming throughout, even being offside when he had a chance to equalise – baffling.”
The Mirror compared Kane’s last-minute goal to a “Harry Houdini” act, highlighting England’s continued problems despite surviving: “Kane’s extra-time strike, and Bellingham’s last-minute overhead kick, saved England’s skin, but issues remain, and their route to the latter stages seems precarious.”
Goal.com praised Bellingham’s heroics: “Bellingham’s legend continues to grow with his 95th-minute overhead kick proving to be England’s saving grace. Even with a previous lacklustre performance, this golden goal is sure to etch his name in the national team’s history.”
Other European media outlets also joined the discussion. Turin’s Tuttosport delivered a concise assessment: “Super Bellingham Saves England.”
Milan’s Gazzetta dello Sport emphasized the drama of the game: “England Pulls Off a Sensational Comeback, Bellingham and Kane Combine to Eliminate Slovakia.”
Marca bestowed almost mythical status upon Bellingham: “God Bless Bellingham, His Performance Has Made Him Both God and King in the Hearts of English Fans.”
Mundo Deportivo acknowledged England’s miraculous escape: “England Avoided Elimination on the Brink Thanks to Bellingham’s Flash of Inspiration.”
France’s L’Équipe and RMC Sport also focused on Bellingham’s crucial intervention, calling it a “masterpiece” and highlighting England’s “last-minute escape”. They emphasized that Bellingham’s goal was “the nation’s savior.”
It’s clear that despite the hard-fought victory, England’s performance exposed several weaknesses, particularly in tactical execution and player form. Bellingham’s heroics were undoubtedly the key to England’s continued European journey.
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