'Who else? Iconic Bellingham goal will go down in England history'

The timepiece timer wrong nan elephantine Arena AufSchalke had ticked astir to 94 minutes 34 seconds erstwhile Jude Bellingham took to nan aerial to nutrient an iconic infinitesimal that will return its spot alongside nan awesome England goals.

England had only 86 seconds to spare themselves from nan humiliation of a conclusion against Slovakia that would beryllium uncomfortably successful nan enclosure of sporting horrors alongside nan nonaccomplishment to Iceland astatine Euro 2016.

Failure to do truthful would surely person signalled nan extremity of Gareth Southgate’s clip arsenic England head - it whitethorn still travel soon irrespective of their destiny successful Germany - and a wide-ranging inquest into everything surrounding a mystifying nonaccomplishment to show up astatine Euro 2024.

And past came Bellingham.

In a flash of brilliant that will beryllium replayed and talked astir for years, Bellingham took disconnected successful an audacious show of athleticism and individual accomplishment to nonstop a stunning overhead footwear past Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka.

Think David Platt’s acrobatic hooked decorativeness successful nan past seconds of other clip against Belgium astatine this aforesaid last-16 shape of Italia 90. Think Paul Gascoigne’s left-foot flick complete Colin Hendry and volleyed right-foot decorativeness against Scotland astatine Wembley successful Euro 96. Think nan 18-year-old Michael Owen's dazzling slalom tally and decorativeness into nan tile of Argentina's nett successful nan past 16 astatine nan France 98 World Cup.

Bellingham’s extremity was astatine slightest nan adjacent those arsenic he someway recovered nan agility to emergence and get connected nan extremity of Marc Guehi’s headed flick aft 90 gruelling minutes erstwhile he had summation struggled to make his accustomed impact.

He turned away, appearing to rima “who else?” to nan joyous England fans. Who other indeed?

Bellingham celebrated his 21st day connected Saturday and now he had fixed his ain belated gift to those suffering, disgruntled England supporters.

England’s fans were betraying their feelings pinch soundlessness successful those closing moments, resigned to conclusion while bracing themselves to crockery retired nan toxic curen that has go nan soundtrack to their past 2 performances against Denmark and Slovenia.

Southgate’s sanction was moreover booed earlier kick-off erstwhile it was announced. England’s players were roundly jeered astatine half-time - and they would person known thing overmuch worse was coming had Slovakia closed retired nan win.

Instead, those aforesaid supporters tin now opportunity they were coming to spot 1 of nan astir melodramatic goals and escapes successful caller history, Bellingham’s extremity England’s first changeable connected target and their latest onslaught successful normal clip astatine immoderate awesome tournament.

It whitethorn person been 94 minutes 34 seconds of torture and torpor earlier but it was worthy each 2nd of nan hold and much besides.

There was mayhem connected nan touchline among England’s substitutes and backroom squad arsenic Bellingham was swamped.

Its effect connected Slovakia was instant and profound arsenic their surgery players slumped to nan turf successful nan look of this magic, possibly knowing that nan conflict was lost, arsenic so it was erstwhile Harry Kane scored England’s victor early successful other time.

England were connected nan measurement retired - and past they were connected their measurement into quarter-final gathering pinch Switzerland connected Saturday successful Dusseldorf.

Hardened neutrals fto retired gasps of astonishment arsenic Bellingham turned away, leaving team-mates successful his aftermath earlier adopting his trademark arms-outstretched celebratory pose. These are nan moments nan awesome players supply and everyone who witnesses them remembers.

Bellingham’s head and team-mates formed an orderly queue to heap praise connected him, their words a substance of awe, delight and immense relief.

He had pulled them clear of nan precipice pinch 1 of nan finest goals scored by anyone successful an England shirt, not conscionable because it was a testament to his method and earthy gifts but because it came erstwhile nan stakes were truthful precocious and nan unit astatine its height.

Kane put it successful nan apical bracket erstwhile he said: “That was 1 of nan champion goals successful our country’s history. What a subordinate he is. He has kept our tourney alive. He useful truthful difficult for nan squad and successful nan large moments he steps up.”

Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live: “With 15 minutes to spell you wonderment if he is retired connected his feet, but him and Harry Kane nutrient those moments and that is why you don’t make changes erstwhile group are clamouring for much changes.

“I’ve said for a agelong clip he is doing unbelievably well. I deliberation I understand his world amended than a batch of people. His world is incredibly different.

"He’s had an unthinkable effect moreover though he is only a young man. He will opportunity things and respond to things for illustration a young man will, but tin create moments that alteration large games and that’s what he has done here.”

Declan Rice joined nan chorus of praise, adding: “It was a large infinitesimal for a 21-year-old. It takes a batch of courage to do thing for illustration that. People don’t understand what you person to spell done to get complete nan line.”

England did not merit nan equaliser. They did not merit to flight nan embarrassment of nan disapproval that would person been heaped connected them. Make nary mistake, this was a shocking capacity until Bellingham’s goal.

And yet, erstwhile you person players for illustration Bellingham who do nan typical things successful nan large moments, games are ne'er complete until they are over. This was nan premier illustration of what nan world-class tin do.

The past connection must spell to nan man of nan infinitesimal Bellingham, arsenic he admitted: “It’s sewage to beryllium up location pinch my champion goals – 30 seconds and we’re retired of Euro 2024.

"It’s difficult to contradict it’s 1 of nan astir important moments successful my career, but it’s only very important if we spell connected to triumph nan tournament, truthful we’ll spot successful a mates of weeks.”

England person someway stumbled their measurement into nan quarter-final successful spite of themselves. But, pinch a subordinate and characteristic specified arsenic Bellingham, tin of pulling disconnected what he did present successful Gelsenkirchen, past what has looked intolerable truthful acold could still beryllium possible.