Final result: England 2-1 Slovakia (aet)
ENGLAND
Pickford 6 – He plays with his bandaged pinky for a shot in the warm-up. Innocent on the goal, they almost mocked him in midfield.
Walker 6 – It’s immediately clear that it’s not a great evening when he gets caught from behind by Haraslin. He reemerges with experience.
Stones 5.5 – Unrecognizable compared to the original City version, he passively observes Strelec, leaving him free to place the assist. He makes a lot of mistakes.
Guehi 6 – So far among the few positive notes of the German expedition, perhaps influenced by the yellow he is bullied by Schranz. He finds redemption with the assist for the equaliser.
Trippier 5.5 – The tactical misunderstanding continues, on the left he seems disoriented: when he is freed to shoot by Bellingham he doesn’t make a good impression. From 66′ Palmer 6.5 – The man half of England is calling for, enters with the right attitude.
Mainoo 6 – Southgate tries it in the duo with Rice almost out of desperation, compared to those who preceded him at least he has more initiative. From ’84’ Eze 6 – His misplaced shot led to the equaliser.
Rice 6.5 – They change his third partner in four games, he remains the only certainty: he doesn’t get upset and makes the post shake. Lead the fightback.
Saka 5.5 – With virtually no space to attack, Hancko soon becomes an insurmountable obstacle. On the other hand, his performance as a full-back was generous.
Bellingham 7.5 – He pulls his team off the ladder of the return plane with an overhead kick like a true champion, almost an advert for the Ballon d’Or. He is the true savior of the country. From 106′ Konsa sv
Foden 5.5 – The bad photocopy of the talent admired with Guardiola, the position is only a small mitigating factor. He scores, but offside. From 90’+1 Toney 6.5 – Excellent impact, settles it for Kane.
Kane 7 – Served poorly and poorly, penalized by the absence of a shred of play. Yet he manages to score the decisive goal, seventh in the last seven knockout games. From 106′ Gallagher sv
Gareth Southgate 6 – Bench 99 was seriously in danger of becoming the last, Bellingham and Kane saved it in extremis from the inevitable massacre it was heading towards. In the often labile border between skill and luck he gets the moves right on the fly.
SLOVAKIA
Dubravka 6 – Essential style, decisive in his exits. He closes without real saves, but transmits confidence. Helped by the post, he can do nothing about the English goals.
Pekarik 6 – He covers and starts again, as if time had suddenly stopped: the 14 years of difference with Foden are only visible on the documents. From 109′ Tupta sv
Vavro 6.5 – A distant relative of the uncertain defender seen in action in the unfortunate Lazio adventure, his long throw started the lead.
Skriniar 6 – He looks like the one from the Inter period, he keeps a good guard, always occupying the right position to repel frontal attacks.
Hanko 6.5 – At Feyenoord he plays as a centre-back, here he pushes on the wing without forgetting to control Saka, dominating him in the physical mismatch.
Kucka 6 – He has a hand in the lead, heading it in for Strelec. Aggressive in interdiction, already cautioned, risks a second yellow. From 82′ I drink 5.5 – Less intense.
Lobotka 6.5 – Calzona hands him the keys to the team, he starts the engine and sets it off. He runs out of petrol a few meters from the finish line.
Duda 6.5 – Effective as an assistant director, he collaborates with Lobotka in managing time and puts pressure on Bellingham in the non-possession phase. From 82′ Well 6 – Participate in the phrasing.
Schranz 7 – the top scorer you don’t expect, the true revelation of this Euro 2024: he still arrives on time for his goal appointment. He scores his third in four games. From 90’+3 Groomer 5.5 – Traumatic entry.
Strelec 7 – He drives the English defense crazy with his movement to empty the area, he maintains clarity at the moment of the last pass. Before leaving he comes close to scoring from midfield. From 62′ Bozenik 5.5 – It doesn’t worry Pickford.
Haraslin 6.5 – He feasts on the prairies that are granted to him, he gets caught up at the moment of conclusion but does a crazy job. From 62′ Suslov 6 – Protagonist of the latest assaults.
Francesco Calzona 6.5 – He plays it with the typical lightness of those who know they have nothing to lose, he stops just one step away from the historic feat. There remains the bitterness for the epilogue, but the balance is more than positive.