England were 86 seconds away from an embarrassing Euro 2024 exit until Jude Bellingham’s stunner inspired a 2-1 extra-time win over Slovakia in the last 16.
Bellingham, only 21 on Saturday, showed his talismanic quality yet again to haul England level with their first shot on target in the 95th minute.
His superb bicycle kick from a long throw-in beat Martin Dubravka to cancel out Ivan Schranz’s first-half opener and send the tie to extra-time.
Harry Kane then stepped up 50 seconds into the additional 30 minutes to nod home Ivan Toney’s flick and give England a victory which sets up a quarter-final with Switzerland next Saturday – kick-off 5pm – which had looked almost impossible only moments earlier.
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But it could have been so different. England will now meet Switzerland in the Quarter Finals.
In the other game, Spain set up an eagerly-anticipated quarter-final with hosts Germany by overcoming an early own goal to thrash Georgia 4-1.
It briefly looked as though Georgia would follow up their stunning victory over Portugal by dumping Luis de la Fuente’s side out of the competition, with Robin Le Normand diverting a cross into his own net against the run of play.
But Spain had started the game impressively and refused to be knocked off their stride, peppering the overworked Giorgi Mamardashvili’s goal with 17 shots in the first half and eventually drawing level through Rodri’s accurate strike.
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Kvicha Kvaratskhelia almost put Georgia back in front with an inventive effort from his own half but, instead, Spain completed the comeback just minutes later when Fabian Ruiz nodded in Lamine Yamal’s brilliant cross.
Heorhiy Tsitaishvili spurned Georgia’s final chance and Spain then finished off their opponents, with Nico Williams bludgeoning a goal past Mamardashvili after a devastating counter attack before Dani Olmo stroked a fourth into the corner to cap another impressive La Roja display.
