England boss Gareth Southgate says he allowed the game against Slovakia to drift into the dying seconds because he had a feeling his side would conjure up some magic.
Fans and pundits were aghast that Southgate made only one sub in the first 83 minutes of the last-16 clash in Gelsenkirchen, and brought on a striker, Ivan Toney, with his third sub in the 94th minute of a game they had been losing 1-0 since the first half.
However Southgate had the last laugh in his 99th game in charge of the Three Lions as one of the players he opted not to replace, Jude Bellingham, scored a dramatic overhead kick to send the game to extra-time and then two of his subs combined to set up Harry Kane’s winner.
🏴 England are quarter-finalists 👏#EURO2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/03FuHW0Bc7
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 30, 2024
Southgate told BBC Sport: “I’m so proud of the players and the spirit the lads showed. Everybody we put into the game played a part and helped us get over the line.
“They are all pushing and helping each other and tonight, that made the difference.”
Southgate revealed: “We were thinking should we take (Bellingham) off, but you know he is capable of those sorts of moments.
“We know in the game itself we needed to better with the ball, we couldn’t find the right solutions in the first half and we did it better in the second.
“Under that pressure they kept probing. In the end it is the old fashioned long throw that gets the goal, those moments can happen when you keep wearing a team down.”
🏴 England complete the comeback#EURO2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/sNwXKrO0vI
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 30, 2024
As the clock ticked down and fans frustrations grew, Southgate remained passive, claiming: “I had a funny feeling the game wasn’t dead and I know that sounds ridiculous. We were pushing and probing.
“With 15 minutes to go you wonder if (Bellingham) is out on his feet. Him and Harry Kane produce those moments and that is why you don’t makes changes when people are clamouring for more changes. We had enough attacking players on the pitch.”
Southgate praised skipper Kane for keeping the England ship steady and said his experience will be crucial as the tournament progresses.
“He has been through it before and nights like tonight are which the younger ones will refer back to as that is what happens in tournaments.”
Southgate also hailed Bukayo Saka for reverting to left-back when Cole Palmer came on on the right, adding: “It is a good option to have. I have to say the courage shown by the players was fantastic tonight.”
Switzerland await in the quarter-final in Dusseldorf on Saturday (5pm BST) in what will be Southgate’s 100th match in charge, not that he’s remotely bothered by the milestone.
“That’s neither here nor there,” he said. “We haven’t come to get to a quarter-final.
“To get through a night like tonight was fantastic character and we now play a Swiss team that have been very good. We have a couple of days to recover and get ready for them.”
