said Sunday that he didn’t feel ready for Euro elimination after Jude Bellingham’s late heroics kept his team in the competition by the skin of their teeth. England were a goal down to Slovakia and on the verge of an embarrassing last-16 exit when Bellingham saved Southgate and his team-mates with a superb bicycle kick in the final seconds. ADVERTISEMENT Mexico bow out after 0-0 draw with Ecuador then popped up early in extra-time with a header to give under-par England a hard-fought victory.
“We knew that one goal would change the whole atmosphere in the ground. I believed that we could get that goal but I didn’t think it would be as late as it was,” Southgate said. “It was a night where I wasn’t prepared, I wasn’t ready to go home and clearly the players felt the same,” he added.
Southgate praised Kane and Bellingham, who have scored all four of England’s goals, for winning the match despite showing clear signs of exhaustion. “They’re two players who you could have arguably taken off with fifteen minutes to go, they’re out on their feet physically,” added Southgate. “But that’s what they’re capable of and that’s why we stuck with them,” Southgate said.
Meanwhile, UEFA opened a disciplinary investigation on Monday into a gesture made by Jude Bellingham after his goal. In the aftermath, Bellingham was caught on film mimicking a crotch grab while apparently looking towards the Slovakian bench. Slovakia coach Calzona proud of his team despi.