The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
NUMBER PLATE
ENGLAND HAD the narrowest of lucky escapes to secure a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their Euro last-16 clash after a last-gasp bicycle kick by Jude Bellingham took the match to extra time, before Harry Kane headed home the winner.
England were poor against a Slovakia team who were aggressive from the start and pressed their opponents relentlessly, taking the lead with an Ivan Schranz strike in the 25th minute.
Declan Rice hit the post from long range as England desperately sought an equaliser, but it wasn’t until five minutes into added time that Bellingham finally found the net to save them, with his side’s first shot on target in the game, before Kane headed home in the first minute of extra time.
England will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals after they knocked out defending champions Italy with a 2-0 win on Saturday.
Germany weather storm
Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala's secondhalf goals sent Germany into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark on Saturday after their last-16 clash was delayed by thunderstorm.
The game was suspended for 20 minutes in the first half due to the weather before Danish defender Joachim Andersen went from hero to zero when his close-range finish was disallowed for offside and he conceded a penalty converted by Havertz in the 53rd minute.
Nico Schlotterbeck earlier had a goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up as Germany started strongly in front of an expectant crowd, but Denmark grew into the game and went close either side of halftime.
The hosts established an unassailable lead in the 68th minute, however, when
Jude Bellingham's equaliser was England's latest ever goal in normal time at the UEFA European Championship (94:34), and was netted with his side's first shot on target in the match.
Musiala ran on to a ball over the top and curled home his third goal of the tournament to put Germany into the last eight, where they will face Spain or Georgia.
Musiala equalled Georgia's Georges Mikautadze as Euro 2024 top-scorer with three goals, as Germany recorded their first major tournament knockout win for eight years after being eliminated in the group stage at the last two World Cups and in the Euro 2020 last 16.
Germany started the game fast and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was forced to make several save as Denmark struggled to create any type of combinations, barely crossing the halfway line in the first 15 minutes.
Buried deep with a back five that was just trying to survive Germany's onslaught, Denmark were lucky to avoid conceding in the opening half an hour.
They grew into the game, however, and Christian Eriksen almost scored from a counter-attack before the match was suspended in the 35th minute due to lightning and thunder as torrential rain poured down at the Dortmund BVB Stadion.
The game was stopped for over 20 minutes when referee Michel Oliver ordered the players to return to the pitch for a brief warm-up and Germany almost scored when Havertz's header was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel.
Denmark thought they had taken the lead when Andersen fired in a lose ball inside the box after a free kick, but the effort was ruled out by the VAR.
Three minutes later, VAR intervened again to flag to the referee a handball inside the box by Andersen, who accidentally touched David Raum's cross with his right hand.
Havertz scored with a tidy finish as the stadium exploded in joy and, with Denmark chasing an equaliser, they were often exposed to counter-attacks and Havertz and Leroy Sane missed good close-range chances.
Musiala did not waste his opportunity, however, as he burst on to a long pass and placed a calm finish past Schmeichel to secure Germany's place in the quarter-finals where they will play Spain or Georgia.