In the end it was all a bit reminiscent of the last time England won a round of 16 at a European Championship.
As Gareth Southgate emerged from a deep embrace with his number two Steve Holland, his players lined up in front of the traveling supporters to hear the strains of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline echo from the stadium.
The last time was three years ago at Wembley. England had just beaten Germany and it was a win that set their championship on fire. In a way that win propelled England into games that they won well against Ukraine and Denmark and into the final.
England had been unconvincing in that tournament up to that point, but that was no longer the case from that moment on. Southgate and his players will have to make up their minds about that in the coming days. Their greatest hope is to shake off the difficulties of the past two weeks in Germany and come alive.
Southgate joined his players in front of the England supporters on Sunday night. There were no plastic beer cups landing at his feet this time, but the England manager knows how close he came. He was 90 seconds away from ending his reign, ending his tenure on 99 games.
England defeated Slovakia 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championship on Sunday
Gareth Southgate had to rely on a late showing to turn around a dismal display
But the scenes at the end were all quite reminiscent of the last time England won a round of 16 at a European Championship, when they beat Germany 2-0 at Wembley in 2021.
Instead, a magical swing of the right foot from a player he didn’t want to give up gives Southgate another chance. Jude Bellingham saved him this time, but by the time England go to Dusseldorf to face Switzerland on Saturday, he will have to have found a way to motivate and drive his players to something beyond what they have here have served.
This was exciting and dramatic and ultimately a night of joy. It was a night to marvel at how quickly sport can change, how a single moment of mesmerizing brilliance can turn a match and perhaps a whole summer on its head. The fact that one England goal became two so quickly speaks volumes about the way football can change. England have looked like a sick animal waiting to be put out of its misery for two weeks. Slovakia — ranked 45th in the world — seemed well-equipped for the task.
But big moments and big goals can give tired footballers confidence, purpose and energy again, as was the case when David Platt’s late volley won the match against Belgium at the same stage of Italy 90.
Jude Bellingham produced a moment of magic to ensure Southgate kept his job as manager
After being unconvincing at the tournament so far, England must use this win to find another level
In short, England and their manager must now capitalise on this. Oddly enough, they will be feeling better on Monday morning than at any time since Bellingham scored against Serbia two weeks ago. Since that goal went in, everything England had done until he scored again here had set them on a steady journey towards humiliation.
This was perhaps one of Southgate’s most memorable nights in his eight years in the role, but it’s hard to say much of what happened went down well for him.
For the most part, this was a night where England represented and reflected their manager in the wrong way. They were hesitant, cautious, uninspired and stuck in the bad habits they had learned during this tournament.
Southgate, as predicted, picked a safe team and what he got in return was another predictable performance. At times, as his team passed sideways and backwards, it seemed as if their manager was stuck, tied in knots by his own safety-first ideology.
England were miserable in the first half and by the time they reached the dressing room they were drowning. Southgate did nothing. He made no changes or tactical adjustments. It was only when Kieran Tripper succumbed to injury in the second half that Cole Palmer got his chance. Ivan Toney came on three minutes into the 96th minute. The Brentford striker’s performance was quite profound.
England were hesitant, cautious, uninspired and stuck in bad habits for most of the clash
But despite this, Southgate failed to make a change until Kieran Trippier suffered an injury
The longer it went on, the more it seemed as if Southgate would be doomed, having provided his many critics with all the ammunition they needed. Opponents could have presented an anti-Southgate checklist with all the boxes checked.
The question now is not whether the English players learn from this dramatic turnaround, but whether their manager can too?
It seems unthinkable that Southgate could field the same eleven against the clever and resourceful Swiss in Düsseldorf.
He has shown admirable loyalty to Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, for example, but both faltered again here. If Chelsea’s young dynamo Palmer doesn’t start against the Swiss, he may be wondering when he ever will.
From the depths of a performance that threatened to be as dismal as the one against Iceland at this stage of Euro 2016, England have somehow managed to swim to the surface and will now breathe the rich, clean air of chance ahead of their next challenge.
Southgate must turn things around for the quarter-final against Switzerland if England are to succeed
For example, Southgate has shown admirable loyalty to Phil Foden (above) and Bukayo Saka, but both faltered again here. Cole Palmer needs to start, and he needs to be more ruthless
Southgate is not blind. He will be fully aware of what he saw here. Even Bellingham – as great as his equaliser was – had been miserable for most of the evening.
If his team really needs to change, then Southgate needs to change. He needs to lead and he needs to set an example and set the right tone. That’s what good managers do at this level when their players really need them.
If everything here in England has felt a little cozy and comfortable, then it’s time for Southgate to change that.
Strange as it may sound after so much of what we’ve seen in Germany, England are now in a great position in Euro 2024. It would be criminal to waste it.