Jude Bellingham: “The iconic goal at Euro 2024 will go down in English history”

The clock in the cavernous Arena AufSchalke stadium showed 94 minutes and 34 seconds as Jude Bellingham soared into the air to create an unforgettable moment that will become synonymous with England goals.

England had just 86 seconds to avoid the humiliation of defeat by Slovakia, which will be regarded as as damaging as their defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016.

Failure to do so would almost certainly mean the end of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager (which could happen soon, regardless of the team’s fate in Germany) and the launch of a wide-ranging investigation into his mysterious absence from Euro 2024.

And then came Bellingham.

In a stroke of genius that will be replayed and talked about for years to come, Bellingham put in a brave display of athleticism and individual skill by beating Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with a stunning overhead kick.

Think of David Platt’s acrobatic strike in the final seconds of extra time against Belgium in the same round of 16 match at Italia 90. Think of Paul Gascoigne’s left-footed leap over Colin Hendry and right-footed volley against Scotland at Wembley during Euro 96. Think of 18-year-old Michael Owen’s stunning slalom into the roof of Argentina’s net in the round of 16 at France 98.

Bellingham’s goal was at least as valuable as this as he somehow found the agility to rise and finish Marc Guehi’s header after a gruelling 90 minutes in which he once again struggled to find his usual influence.

He turned and mouthed “who else?” to the jubilant England fans. Who else, really?

Bellingham celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday and now he himself gave a belated gift to suffering and dissatisfied England fans.

England fans remained silent in the final minutes of the match, accepting defeat while bracing themselves for the toxic treatment that has become the soundtrack of their last two matches against Denmark and Slovenia.

Southgate’s name was even booed before kick-off when it was announced. England’s players were heavily ridiculed at half-time and would have known something much worse was in store for them had Slovakia secured victory.

Instead, those same fans can now say they witnessed one of the most dramatic goals and escapes in recent match history, Bellingham’s goal being England’s first shot on target and its last goal in regulation time at any major tournament.

It may have been 94 minutes and 34 seconds of torture and numbness before, but it was worth every second of waiting and more.

There was chaos on the touchline among the England substitutes and backroom staff as Bellingham was flooded.

His impact on Slovakia was immediate and profound as their devastated players slumped to the pitch in the face of that magic, perhaps knowing the battle was lost, just as it had been when Harry Kane scored the winner for England early in extra time.

England were the underdogs and will next face Switzerland in the quarter-finals in Dusseldorf on Saturday.

The die-hard neutrals gasped in surprise as Bellingham turned, leaving his teammates behind, before striking his signature ceremonial pose with his arms outstretched. These are the moments that great players provide and are remembered by all who witness them.

Bellingham’s manager and teammates formed an orderly queue to offer him praise, their words a mixture of admiration, delight and overwhelming relief.

He pulled them out of the abyss with one of the most beautiful goals in England history, not just because it was a testament to his technique and natural talent, but because it came at a time when the stakes were high and the pressure was at its highest.

Kane put it at the top of his game when he said: “It was one of the greatest goals in the history of our country. What a player he is. He kept our tournament alive. He works so hard for the team and he steps up in the important moments.”

Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live: “With 15 minutes to go you wonder if he’s up but he and Harry Kane are the authors of those moments and that’s why you don’t make changes when people are calling for more changes.

“I have said for a long time that he is doing incredibly well. I think I understand his world better than many people. His world is incredibly different.

“He’s had an incredible impact, even though he’s just a young man. He’ll say things and react to things like a young man, but he can create moments that change big games, and that’s what he did here.”

Declan Rice joined the chorus of praise, adding: “It was a huge moment for a 21-year-old. It takes a lot of courage to do something like that. People don’t understand what you have to go through to cross the finish line.”

Former England defender Gary Neville added on ITV: “He’s an exceptional player and that goal saved England from an incredible amount of criticism they’ve never seen before and he saved his manager.”

England did not deserve the equaliser. They did not deserve to escape the shame of the criticism that would have been heaped upon them. Make no mistake, this was a shocking performance until Bellingham’s goal.

And yet, when you have players like Bellingham who do special things in big moments, the games are never over until they’re over. It was a perfect example of what world class can do.

The last word must go to current Bellingham player, as he admitted: “I have to score my best goals – 30 seconds and we are out of Euro 2024.

“It’s hard to deny that this is one of the most important moments of my career, but it’s only very important if we win the tournament, so we’ll see in a few weeks.”

England somehow made it to the quarter-finals despite themselves. However, with a player and personality like Bellingham able to do what he did here in Gelsenkirchen, what previously seemed impossible may still be possible.