On the night of June 30, the ghosts that long haunted English football were looming inside Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena. One nil down to lowly Slovakia in a knockout match, the star-studded team looked overcome with fear. The new generation, who began the Euro 2024 tournament as favourites, was no longer unshackled from past failures. Still, England manager Gareth Southgate had faith: stay calm, be patient, hold your nerve.
Then, with just 26 seconds left on the clock, something remarkable happened. Jude Bellingham adjusted his body as the ball floated in from a long throw-in and unleashed a spectacular overhead kick that sent the ball flying into the Slovakian net and led to extra-time victory for England.
“I had belief right the way through that we would get that goal,” said Southgate in his post-match press conference. “We’re somehow finding a way.”