A summer that promised so much looked set to end in heartbreak and humiliation for a team that went within a penalty shoot-out of winning the last edition three years ago.
Ivan Schranz put wily, well-drilled Slovakia on course for their biggest win as an independent nation, only for Bellingham to leave jaws on the floor and disbelieving players on the deck in Gelsenkirchen.
The Real Madrid midfielder’s overhead kick five minutes into stoppage time sent the match to extra time, with captain Harry Kane’s header seeing Southgate’s side through this tricky last-16 clash.
Bellingham said: “You’re 30 seconds away from going home, feeling like you’ve let your nation down, and one kick of the ball and everything’s great. It’s a feeling I don’t want to be in, but when it comes, it’s a great feeling.”
Kane praised his fellow goalscorer. “Jude does what Jude does, it was an unbelievable goal and it kept our tournament alive,” he said.
“I think it’s one of the best (goals) in our country’s history. What a player he is. He works so hard for the team.”
Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona said: “We played a great game against a world-class team and one of the favourites. We allowed England very little, we almost advanced. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it. In extra time, we spent half the time in our opponents’ half. I am very proud of my team.”
Switzerland await in the quarter-finals on Sunday and England will look to build on the spirit shown towards the end of a match that had looked set to end in a result akin to the Iceland debacle at Euro 2016.
Southgate has overseen vast improvements since taking over shortly after that tournament eight years ago, but the pressure and scrutiny will be as hot as ever after squeaking into the last eight and on to his 100th match at the helm.
Reflecting on a nerve-shredding match for England, Kane said: “That’s the desire and attitude from the boys and staff and everyone involved. It looked tough for a second there but we kept going.”
