Kobbie Mainoo made his tournament debut alongside Declan Rice against Slovakia, with Jude Bellingham slotting into the number ten role. The dynamic of the midfield was different, but it seemed to work for the Three Lions.
“It was a new experience playing alongside Declan,” Mainoo said. “But I think we complement each other well on the pitch.”
Bellingham’s impact was felt late in the game when, with the team trailing 1-0, he pulled off an incredible overhead kick to level the score. It was a moment of brilliance that kept England’s hopes alive.
“It was a crucial goal and one I will never forget,” Bellingham said after the match. “I just saw the ball coming towards me and decided to go for it. Luckily, it paid off.”
Manager Gareth Southgate praised his team’s fighting spirit, noting that the late equaliser gave them the momentum they needed to push for a win in extra-time.
“We never gave up, and that’s the mentality I want to see from this team,” Southgate said. “To come back from behind and then go on to win the game shows character.”
The match against Slovakia was a tough test for England, but they managed to hold on and secure their spot in the quarter-finals. However, Southgate knows that they will need to improve if they want to beat Switzerland in the next round.
“This team will need to step up if we want to progress further in this tournament,” Southgate admitted. “We showed flashes of quality, but we can’t rely on late heroics every time.”
As England prepare to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals, they will need to raise their intensity and quality if they want to reach the later stages of the competition. It won’t be easy, but with players like Mainoo, Rice, and Bellingham stepping up, anything is possible for the Three Lions.
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