Match Centre: England v Slovakia
- J. Bellingham (95′)
- H. Kane (91′)
- M. Guéhi (3′)
- K. Mainoo (7′)
- J. Bellingham (17′)
FT: 1 - 1
- I. Schranz (25′)
- J. Kucka (13′)
- M. Škriniar (46′)
- P. Pekarík (77′)
- D. Vavro (108′)
- N. Gyömbér (114′)
- T. Suslov (122′)
Report from Gelsenkirchen as England produce a dramatic comeback to beat Slovakia and reach the last eight of EURO 2024
England v Slovakia
UEFA EURO 2024 - Round of 16
5pm BST, Sunday 30 June 2024
Aufschalke Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Gareth Southgate is confident England can continue to grow into EURO 2024 ahead of their last-16 clash with Slovakia on Sunday.
The Three Lions address his team's efforts so far, where they can improve and what he wants them to keep doing well.
Here is what he had to say in full.
Reflections on the 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday…
We had already been defending well in terms of our own box but our pressure higher up the field was better against Slovenia. We were able to win the ball better and our use of the ball was calmer and more composed in the final third. The one thing we haven't done is create as many chances as we would have liked. We know there's more to come in terms of cohesion in the final third. We've got to keep doing the things we've been doing well and add that final piece to it.
Overall thoughts on the group stage…
It wasn't tighter than we thought, we knew that all four teams could take points off each other. It highlights the level of European football really. We know that a lot of our players are better known, higher profile, but we've played so many teams outside the top 20 who are very good. We had it with Hungary in the Nations league a couple of years ago, you have to be at your best level. We haven't hit the level yet but we have topped the group and now we have to improve faster than the rest of the teams basically.
On the morale in the camp…
The squad have reacted very well. The day after the game we had a day off the grass and it was nice to be able to relax and clear everyone's minds. When you're in a tournament it can be very intense and we're conscious of that.
On England's defending so far…
It's been exceptional. Of course when we came into the tournament John Stones hadn't really played 90 minutes for a long time until the FA Cup final, Marc Guehi hadn't had 90 minutes until our friendly against Iceland, Kieran Trippier hadn't had 90 minutes for three months until the Serbia game. We weren't sure what that would look like three weeks ago and they’ve been outstanding.
On the impact of his substitutes…
They were outstanding against Slovenia and they showed what we've seen in training. They showed the importance of strength in depth and players with a different profile who provide the opposition with a different type of problem. They all had a very good impact. In tight games, freshness coming into the match at the right time can be the thing that makes the difference. It can be frustrating for them but the guys who haven't played yet have been a huge part of creating a spirit that is very strong.
On what to expect from Slovakia and the knockout stages…
Everything that's happened is now pretty irrelevant. We have things we can build on but this is also a different test, a different phase. Each game takes place on its own merit and can take a wild direction at times. This is the exciting part and it's the bit nobody can predict. We need to find our next level, which I believe we can. Slovakia are a very well-coached team and they've got a clear playing identity. They want to play out from the back. Stanislav Lobotka is clearly key in that system. He dictates the tempo. They get numbers forward early, they press well, high and aggressively. You've got to find a way of breaking through that press. It's a different sort of test.
On whether he's enjoying the challenge…
Absolutely, it's a brilliant challenge. We've had different problems to solve as a team over the last few weeks and I'm the leader trying to connect all of that and keep the juggernaut that is the England football team on the right path. That's how I'm viewing up. Every day I wake up and think what we need to do, the conversations that need to happen, the areas of the game we need to focus on. It's the ultimate challenge.
The #EURO2024 knockouts: 🔜 pic.twitter.com/6D4sP4tbOY
— England (@England) June 29, 2024
Slovakia in profile
Nickname: The Falcons
Coach: Francesco Calzona
Captain: Milan Skriniar
UEFA EURO best performance: Round of 16, 2016
● England have won five of their six games against Slovakia – however, their one failure to defeat them was at EURO 2016 in their only previous major tournament meeting, a goalless draw in Saint-Étienne in which the Three Lions had their most shots (29) in a EURO match on record (since 1980).
● Slovakia have scored first in three of their six matches against England but have gone on to lose each of those games 2-1: in both EURO 2004 qualifiers and a 2018 World Cup qualifier in September 2017.
● This is England’s third UEFA EURO round of 16 match, losing 2-1 to Iceland at EURO 2016 and beating Germany 2-0 at EURO 2020 previously. They are looking to reach the quarter-final stage of consecutive European Championship tournaments for the very first time.
● For just a third time, Slovakia will feature in the knockout stages of a major international tournament. However, they’ve been eliminated in the round of 16 both times, losing 2-1 to the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup and 3-0 to Germany at EURO 2016.
● England faced 26 shots in the EURO 2024 group stages, exactly the same number they faced in the EURO 2020 groups, although they had seven more shots this year than in 2020 (29 vs 22). They did, however, only manage 53 touches in the opposition box, only having fewer in one EURO group stage (41 in 2012).
● Slovakia had 37 shots overall and 13 shots on target in the EURO 2024 group stage, both highs for them in the group stage of a major tournament. Indeed, at EURO 2020, they mustered just two shots on target in three games.
● Across the last two European Championship tournaments, England have kept more clean sheets than any other side (7 in 10 games). All seven of those have been achieved with Jordan Pickford as goalkeeper – the only goalkeepers with more UEFA EURO clean sheets are Spain’s Iker Casillas (9), Netherlands’ Edwin van der Sar (8) and Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon (8).
● Slovakia’s starting XIs had an average age of 30 years and 218 days in the EURO 2024 group stage, the oldest of any nation. They’ve handed 809 minutes to players aged 35 or older, with only Italy at EURO 2016 giving more at a single European Championship (870).
● Harry Kane has scored six goals in his last six appearances in the knockout stages of major tournaments for England (two in two at 2022 World Cup, four in four at EURO 2020). His seven goals in the knockout stages overall are also the most of any Three Lions player.
● Only Germany’s Toni Kroos (130) played more forward passes in the EURO 2024 group stage than Slovakia’s Milan Skriniar (92), whose 203 successful passes so far at this tournament are the most ever by a Slovakian player in a single edition of a major tournament.
Highlights: England 2-1 Slovakia
See the best of the action from our last meeting with Slovakia at Wembley back in 2017
Head to head
The Three Lions have played Slovakia at men's senior level on six occasions, registering five wins and drawing once. The first meeting came in October 2002 when the nations met in a EURO qualifier when second-half goals from David Beckham and Michael Owen turned it around after an early goal from former Middlesbrough player Szilard Nemeth had put the hosts ahead.
Last three meetings v Slovakia
England 2-1 Slovakia, FIFA World Cup European Qualifier, 4 September 2017
Goals from Eric Dier and Marcus Rashford sealed a win for Gareth Southgate's team at Wembley, when the nations met while qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Slovakia 0-1 England, FIFA World Cup European Qualifier, 4 September 2016
In what was Sam Allardyce's first and only game as Three Lions manager, a late goal from Adam Lallana saw England take the three points as they kicked-off their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Slovakia 0-0 England, UEFA EURO 2016, 20 June 2016
The teams couldn't be separated in Saint-Etienne when they met in their final group stage game at EURO 2016 in France.
From the archive: England 4-0 Slovakia
Take a look back at our game with Slovakia at Wembley back in 2009
England Squad News
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Ticket Information
Fans can also check UEFA's ticket portal for availability of tickets for the knockout stage games
If you're travelling to Germany for the game, you can find out more about Gelsenkirchen and the stadium.
Where can I watch England v Slovakia?
Games at UEFA EURO 2024 are being shown live in the UK by both the BBC and ITV. This game will be shown live on ITV1 and ITVX.
Gareth Southgate has named his England line-up to face Slovaka in today's EURO 2024 last-16 clash in Gelsenkirchen.
The Three Lions boss makes one change to the team that drew 0-0 with Slovenia on Tuesday as midfielder Kobbie Mainoo replaces Conor Gallagher.
Southgate otherwise sticks with the side that topped Group C in Germany as he aims to reach a fourth consecutive major tournament quarter-final.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford, 2 Kyle Walker, 4 Declan Rice, 5 John Stones, 6 Marc Guehi, 7 Bukayo Saka, 9 Harry Kane (c), 10 Jude Bellingham, 11 Phil Foden, 12 Kieran Trippier, 26 Kobbie Mainoo
Substitutes: 3 Luke Shaw, 8 Trent Alexander-Arnold, 13 Aaron Ramsdale, 14 Ezri Konsa, 15 Lewis Dunk, 16 Conor Gallagher, 17 Ivan Toney, 18 Anthony Gordon, 19 Ollie Watkins, 20 Jarrod Bowen, 21 Eberechi Eze, 22 Joe Gomez, 23 Dean Henderson, 24 Cole Palmer, 25 Adam Wharton
Jude Bellingham’s sensational overhead kick deep into injury time and Harry Kane’s header in the first minute of extra time allowed England to come from behind to pull off a stunning 2-1 win over Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.
As a result, England will take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2024 in Dusseldorf on Saturday 6 July.
Ivan Schranz had given Slovakia the lead midway through the first half and though England pushed hard in the second, it took until deep into stoppage time for them to find an equaliser.
It came from Bellingham, a wonderful overhead kick after Marc Guehi’s flick-on from a long throw in the 95th minute.
Kane then completed the turnaround less than a minute into extra time, with Kyle Walker crucial in preventing Slovakia an equaliser.
Gareth Southgate had made one change from the side that drew 0-0 with Slovenia to top Group C, with Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo coming into midfield for Conor Gallagher.
Despite Mainoo’s introduction, Slovakia looked dangerous early on, with Guehi booked after a misplaced pass put him in trouble. The Crystal Palace defender is ruled out of the quarter-final as a result.
David Hancko was next to threaten, slipped in on the left but his dangerous ball across evaded everyone.
England’s first foray into Slovakian territory came after good control by Bukayo Saka from a raking ball down the right, but after a scramble in the box, Mainoo was next into the book as he overstretched trying to win the ball back.
Saka was the danger man for England early, another clever ball in front of the Slovakian defence opening up space, only for Kieran Trippier to fire well over.
Bellingham became the third England player to be booked, with Juraj Kucka suffering the same fate for Slovakia.
England looked to be finding their feet, Kane forcing a corner from a dangerous Trippier cross. Saka then put a fizzing ball across before Mainoo’s well-struck volley drifted over the bar.
But just as England seemed as though they were finding some momentum, Slovakia struck. A long ball forward was headed on by Kucka to David Strelec. He played in Schranz, who held off Guehi and slid the ball past Jordan Pickford as Slovakia hit the front on 25 minutes.
England responded with Saka and Bellingham both creating half-chances before a whipped free-kick from Phil Foden sparked some panic in the Slovakian defence.
Still, England trailed 1-0 as the half-time whistle blew.
England came out after half-time with renewed intent and had the ball in the back of the net within five minutes. Trippier found space down the left and played the ball across for Foden to tap home. The Manchester City man had strayed just offside however.
Kane was next to threaten, cutting inside Milan Skriniar and firing, with Denis Vavro sticking a leg out to stop it and concede a corner.
England were almost caught out a couple of minutes later. A lost ball in midfield fell to Strelec and his long-range effort had Pickford scrambling but drifted wide.
Despite that anomaly, England were clearly in the ascendancy, with Mainoo earning a free-kick with one driving run at the Slovakian defence.
The difficulty was finding a way of breaking down that defence. They came close with quarter of an hour remaining when Kane got away from Skriniar but the England skipper headed Foden’s free-kick wide.
And they came even closer a couple of minutes later. Declan Rice beat Martin Dubravka with a fierce shot from outside the box, which came back off the post. Kane tried to fire home the rebound but his acrobatic effort went over the bar.
It was acrobatics that saved England in the end, with Bellingham’s sensational overhead kick five minutes into injury time forcing extra time.
Just 52 seconds in, England hit the front through Kane. After a free-kick had been cleared, Eberechi Eze shot from distance, his effort was steered across goal by Ivan Toney and Kane was on hand to head home.
Slovakia threatened an equaliser just before half-time in extra time, Peter Pekarik putting the ball over under pressure from Eze.
In the second half of extra time, Slovakia gave it everything to earn an equaliser, with Walker, who had taken over the captaincy, clearing a dangerous cross into the box before marshalling a second ball behind for a goal kick.
Toney almost sealed victory in stoppage time in extra time, a powerful shot on a counter-attack just rising over the bar.
It did not matter though, as England booked their place in the last eight.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford (Everton), 2 Kyle Walker (Manchester City), 4 Declan Rice (Arsenal), 5 John Stones (Manchester City), 6 Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), 7 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), 9 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), 11 Phil Foden (Manchester City), 12 Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), 26 Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Substitutes: 24 Cole Palmer (Chelsea) for Trippier 66’, 21 Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) for Mainoo 84’, 17 Ivan Toney (Brentford) for Foden 90+5’, 14 Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) for Bellingham 105’, 16 Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) for Kane 105’
Subs not used: 13 Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), 23 Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), 3 Luke Shaw (Manchester United), 8 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), 15 Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), 18 Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), 19 Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), 20 Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), 22 Joe Gomez (Liverpool), 25 Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Goals: Bellingham 90+5’, Kane 91’
Yellow cards: Guehi 3’, Mainoo 6’, Bellingham 17’
Coach: Gareth Southgate
Slovakia: 1 Martin Dubravka, 2 Peter Pekarik, 3 Denis Vavro, 8 Ondrej Duda, 14 Milan Skriniar, 16 David Hancko, 17 Lukas Haraslin, 18 David Strelec, 19 Juraj Kucka, 22 Stanislav Lobotka, 26 Ivan Schranz
Substitutes: 7 Tomas Suslov for Haraslin 61’, 9 Robert Boreznik for Strelec 62’, 21 Matus Bero for Kucka 81’, 11 Laszlo Benes for Duda 81’, 6 Norbert Gyomber for Schranz 90+3’, 10 L’ubomir Tupta for Pekarik 109’
Subs not used: 15 Vernon De Marco, 13 Patrik Hrosovsky, 25 Sebastian Kosa, 4 Adam Obert, 23 Henrich Ravas, 5 Tomas Rigo, 12 Marek Rodak, 24 Leo Sauer, 20 David Duris
Goals: Schranz 25’
Yellow cards: Kucka 13’, Skriniar 45+1’, Pekarik 77’, Vavro 108’, Gyomber 114’
Coach: Francesco Calzona
