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In the third quarter-final of the Euro 2024 in Germany, England and Slovakia faced off against each other at the Schalke Stadium in Gelsenkirchen. England, as the world's fifth-ranked powerhouse, did not show the dominance they should have in the group stage, barely qualifying with 1 win and 2 draws. Slovakia, on the other hand, was ranked only 45th in the world, but showed good strength in the group stage and advanced to the knockout stage as third place. This game is destined to be a contest of strength and will.
From the start of the tournament, Slovakia showed their determination. In the 25th minute, Slovakia took advantage of a quick counter-attack, Schlanz cleverly escaped the defense in the box and smashed the ball into the net with the outside of his instep to give Slovakia a 1-0 lead. The goal not only boosted Slovakia's morale, but also put England on the back foot. Despite their dominance in possession and shots, England were unable to break the deadlock and ended the first half at 0-1 with England trailing.
In the second half, England stepped up their attack, but their efforts did not translate into goals immediately. In the 50th minute, Foden comfortably slotted home in front of goal, but unfortunately VAR ruled that he was in an offside position at the moment of receiving the ball and the goal was disallowed. The verdict undoubtedly poured cold water on the England team. However, just when everyone thought England would leave the pitch with regrets, Bellingham stepped up in the 90+5th minute and levelled the score at 1-1 with a brilliant barb to earn England a valuable extra-time chance.
Just one minute into extra time, England once again showed their resilience. From a free-kick near the corner, Kane relayed a header into the net to make it 2-1 and England took the lead. This goal was not only the fastest goal in extra-time, but also the turning point of the whole game. After that, despite Slovakia's attempts to launch a counter-attack, England's defence was rock solid and did not leave much chance for their opponents.
England manager Gareth Southgate's tactical adjustments and substitution decisions played a crucial role in this game. His ongoing changes to the squad, including the start of Maynu, and the introduction or substitution of players such as Kieran Trippier, Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Eze, Ivan Toney and others, showed his deep understanding and adaptability to the game. Especially after Jude Bellingham and Kane scored crucial goals respectively, Southgate replaced them with Conor Gallagher and Konsa in time, both to ensure the fitness of the team and to lay the foundation for the final victory.
After 120 minutes of fierce battle, England finally reversed Slovakia with a score of 2-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship. The victory was not only a testament to England's strength, but also a test of their mental strength. From falling behind to equalising and then to overtaking, every player in the England team showed tenacious fighting spirit and indomitable spirit. In the next competitions, they will continue to fight with this tenacity and glory and move towards higher honors.
This match is not only a wonderful moment of Euro 2024, but also a good story in the history of English football. It tells us that no matter how difficult the situation is, as long as we have faith and perseverance, nothing is impossible. This counterattack by the England team will become a classic case that has inspired countless football fans and athletes, and will forever be engraved in the annals of football history.