The European press have reacted to England‘s dramatic win over Slovakia at Euro 2024 – and weren’t impressed by the Three Lions’ efforts.
Gareth Southgate‘s side were just seconds away from elimination when Jude Bellingham scored an acrobatic effort to take the game to extra time, before Harry Kane netted the winner.
It was another unconvincing performance from the pre-tournament favourites, though they will now take on Switzerland on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Much of the focus from abroad was on Bellingham, who came up trumps to save his side, though some of the attention was negative due to the midfielder’s struggles before his goal.
Most of the criticism aimed his way came from Germany, with BILD claiming that the host nation will likely win the Championship if they can get past Spain in their quarter-final clash.
The European press have taken aim at Jude Bellingham and England following the Three Lions’ win over Slovakia
Bellingham popped up late to score an equaliser for his side just seconds before they were knocked out
BILD in Germany claimed that the host nation will now win the tournament if they can get past Spain in their quarter-final
‘The europhoria in the country is huge after reaching the quarter-finals of a tournament for the first time since 2016,’ Matthias Brugelmann wrote in the publication. ‘Celebrate, enjoy, dream – good, Germany!
‘The truth is that our results sound more confident than the course of the game was in some cases. That is why World Cup captain [Philipp] Lahm rightly warned after the victory against Denmark.
‘My conviction: Germany or Spain – whoever wins on Friday will take the title!’
They later wrote: ‘The truth is that Bellingham didn’t really have any influence on the game until he scored a wonderful goal and was more likely to be noticed for his negative actions.
Christoph Kramer said of the 21-year-old: ‘He is an outstanding player. He just has to be careful that he doesn’t start to get cocky at such a young age.
‘What I always find really bad is when you wave your hands off your own players. He made a few gestures today, but he has done so in recent games as well.
‘The season he played, I give him credit for that. But he still has to be careful that things don’t go in a really stupid direction. I hope that he reflects on that a bit during the summer break.’
Former Germany and Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker added: ‘He doesn’t stay lying down, he rolls around. You don’t have to roll around again to provoke something.’
Bellingham had appeared to ask the question: ‘Who else?’ after scoring, while another gesture, which he claimed on X (formerly Twitter) was aimed at some friends at the game, came under scrutiny.
Bellingham and Kane (right) celebrated together after the midfielder has netted the equaliser
BILD, however, warned Bellingham against getting ‘too cocky’ and going ‘in a really stupid direction’
In France, meanwhile, the midfielder’s performance was highlighted, as well as that of goal scorer Kane.
‘Miracle: The English managed to qualify thanks to individual exploits achieved by three players who, like their team-mates, had been struggling for a long time,’ was written in the French media.
‘The two English scorers, as well as Marc Guehi, decisive passer on the equaliser, symbolised the unexpected revolt of their team, after having reflected its weaknesses.’
Things were a little lighter in Spain, where Bellingham is a key player for LaLiga and Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Playing on English national Anthem God save the King, Marca wrote: ‘In reality Bellingham can play both roles in “God save the King”, because England is divided right now between those who think he is God and those who limit themselves to pointing him out as the King.
‘It was not the worst English display of the tournament, in fact they controlled possession.’
The media in France wrote that the England players had been ‘struggling for a long time’
Spanish publication Marca fought the midfielder’s corner, playing on the national anthem
In Portugal, Bellingham’s own song, ‘Hey Jude’, was referenced following his heroics
Due to the acrobatic nature of Bellingham’s strike, it will surely be a contender for the goal of the tournament, with the effort being the midfielder’s second out in Germany.
After the goal, a chorus of ‘Hey Jude’ could be heard inside the ground in Shalke, which was the angle that A Bola of Portugal chose to focus on.
Describing the goal as a ‘Hollywood-esque bicycle kick’, the publication wrote that Bellingham ‘did as the lyrics say: he took a sad song and made it better’.