Jude Bellingham’s sensational 95th-minute goal in England‘s 2-1 victory over Slovakia in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 has garnered acclaim from some of the biggest stars in sports, including NFL legends Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Trailing 1-0 deep into stoppage time, Bellingham delivered a stunning bicycle kick that found the back of the net, catching Slovakia’s goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka off guard and sending the match into extra time. Harry Kane then secured the win for England with a header in the first minute of extra time.
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The breathtaking nature of Bellingham‘s goal and the dramatic finish to the match drew immediate reactions from Brady and Mahomes. The two quarterbacks, known for their own clutch performances, took to social media to commend Bellingham’s incredible play.
Kane also praised his teammate during a post-match interview, highlighting Bellingham’s resilience and talent: “That’s what Jude does. It was an unbelievable goal. One of the best in our country’s history, I reckon. What a player he is. He works so hard for the team. There has been a lot of talk about him the last couple of days, and it shows what he can do. In big moments, he steps up, and that’s what we needed.”
England’s journey through Euro 2024 has been challenging. Despite being pre-tournament favorites, they managed only two goals in their three group-stage matches, finishing with a 1-2-0 record. Bellingham’s goal ended a 257-minute scoring drought for the team, with their last goal coming from Kane in the 18th minute of a 1-1 draw against Denmark on June 18.
Defensively, England has been solid, conceding only two goals in four matches. This defensive strength has kept them competitive, alongside Spain, France, and Belgium, who have also allowed two or fewer goals thus far.
Next up for England is a quarterfinal showdown with Switzerland, who defeated Italy in the Round of 16. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since a March 2022 friendly, which England won 2-1.
Bellingham‘s heroic moment and the praise from sports icons like Brady and Mahomes underscore his rising star status and the crucial role he plays for England. As the tournament progresses, England will look to build on this momentum and continue their quest for Euro 2024 glory.
