Key events
GOAL! England 1-1 Slovakia (Bellingham 90+5)
Why won’t Gareth Southgate have the courage to take Jude Bellingham off?
90+4 min: England substitution Ivan Toney replaces Phil Foden with about 90 seconds to go. This I don’t understand.
90+3 min: Slovakia substitution Norbert Gyomber replaces the goalscorer Ivan Schranz.
90+1 min Eze spins his man nicely a nd wins a corner off Pekarik. He takes it himself and Dubravka punches clear.
90 min England are six added minutes away from humiliation. Slovakia are six minutes away from making history.
88 min Palmer plays a terrific pass to the underlapping Foden, whose cutback is put behind by the wheezing Lobotka. He and Skriniar hbave been marvellous in the second half, putting out fires all the time.
87 min England look beaten. Lobotka has a pop from 25 yards that is comfortably saved by Pickford.
86 min This is such a sad way for a brilliant era to end, and Gareth Southgate will be unfairly slaughtered by the media (even though I think he’s had a really bad today). It’s gone full circle, right back to Iceland and all that.
85 min “Jeez mate, you always get the fuzzy end of the OBO/MBM lollipop, don’t you?” says Robert Wilson. “I’m stuck between gentle tears and writing the pitch for the inevitable rueful sitcom. Either way, it’s giggle. What kind of legal representation you got?”
Now probably isn’t the time for a Mike Strutter clip is it.
84 min: England substitution Ebere Eze for Kobbie Mainoo. I guess that means Foden will move infield.
83 min “Ah Gareth,” says Niall Mullen, “quiet quitting is soooo 2021.”
And the award for email of the day goes to…
82 min: Double substitution for Slovakia Laszlo Benes and Matus Bero replace Juraj Kucka, who really should have been off 25 minutes ago, and Ondrej Duda.
81 min: Rice hits the post! Still no shot on target, but that was so close. Rice whipped an excellent, surprise shot from 25 yards that bounced up to hit the left-hand post, and the off balance Kane put the rebound over the bar.
80 min More huff, more puff, but still no shots on target. And still no second substitution.
78 min: Glorious chance for Kane! Foden curls a beautiful free-kick from the left. Kane meets it, eight yards out, and heads this far wide of the near post.
At first it looked an awful miss for a finisher of his class. Replays show the ball was slightly behind him, which upgrades it to merely a bad miss.
77 min Pekarik is booked for booting someone.
76 min I can’t fathom how mediocre England have been in attack at Euro 2024 – it’s now four hours since their last goal. It makes no sense, and I don’t subscribe to the view that it’s all Gareth Southgate’s fault either.
75 min “Gordon now,” writes Hugh Molloy, five minutes ago. I’m very surprised how passive Gareth Southgate has been today. Maybe he has gone back to the collective responsibility of Euro 96.
74 min Here’s Simon McMahon on the subject of wine. “The Apfelwein is popular here, Rob. ‘A tart, sour taste’, according to Wikipedia. England fans can add their own punchline.”
73 min Skriniar heads away another cross from Bellingham. He has been increasingly immense in the second half, when Slovakia have been under relentless pressure.
71 min “I’ve been impressed by Slovakia’s depth of talent,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Haraslin and Strelec have been very good, and most mid-ranking teams would keep them on the pitch as long as possible. It’s therefore impressive that Calzona can replace them with Bozenik and Suslov, who’ve been equally good to them at these Euros.”
I’ve really enjoyed them throughout the tournament. They look so well coached.
70 min Palmer threads a terrific low pass to Bellingham in the area. He takes a touch but then slips! It wouldn’t have been a clear chance as he was moving away from goal.
Palmer has already brought composure and penetration in attack.
70 min Blimey, there’s been only one shot on target in the whole game. At the moment England don’t look like changing that.
69 min “Anyone fancy a pint of wine?” says Damian Clarke, quoting my earlier question. “Already on my third FFS.”
That’s a stein mate.
68 min Play continues even though Duda is down. Palmer’s cross is headed behind by Skriniar, who then complains to the referee. Duda is fine.
67 min “Sitting on my porch with the World Service, taking deep cleansing breaths,” writes Liz White. “The one thing I’m thankful for is the summer vacation started on Friday so whatever happens, I won’t have to face my students’ (somewhat respectful) stick at recess. They’re all Ronaldo fans. Happy Canada Day weekend!”
And congratulations to Canada for emerging from their Copa America group, even if it did look almost as dull as England’s.
66 min How the hell did it come to this?
66 min: England substitution Cole Palmer comes on for the limping Trippier, which means Bukayo Saka is going to left-back. My word, he has barely played there in the last three years. Desperate times. It’s gone full Italia 90.
65 min Kucka kicks Rice in the shin and is penalised. He could have been given a second yellow card for that as well.
64 min I take it back, Pekarik got the ball and only caught Trippier with his follow through.
