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Two stars step up late to keep England alive in Euros
Jude Bellingham. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Two stars step up late to keep England alive in Euros

If it weren't for the heroics of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, England probably would've had to pack its bags following its match against Slovakia on Sunday.

In the Round of 16 at UEFA Euro 2024, Bellingham scored a goal on an incredible bicycle kick in the 95th minute of the match, tying the game 1-1 and sending it to extra time. At the start of extra time, Kane quickly netted another goal, helping England escape with a 2-1 victory.

Bellingham and Kane have been criticized for their lackluster play throughout the tournament. Entering this match, England had only scored two goals and won one game in Group C. Former England star Wayne Rooney indicated the duo's apparent lack of chemistry was contributing to the squad's problems.

"Watching England against Slovenia, I focused on Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to try to understand how they are working together," Rooney wrote in a column for The Sunday Times. "What I saw left me worried."

In a postgame interview with Fox Sports, Kane dismissed these concerns, praising Bellingham. He called the 21-year-old's goal that tied the match "one of the best in our country's history."

England will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on July 6. The Nati stunned Italy in the Round of 16 and could pull off another upset if England's play fails to improve. Per The Athletic, the Three Lions only had two shots on target against Slovakia.

However, England is one of the most talented teams at Euro 2024, so it should eventually find its groove. And if Kane and Bellingham keep scoring clutch goals, life will be much easier for the club.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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