Jude Bellingham reflects on Slovakia comeback and Marc Guéhi credit
The England midfielder has been speaking in the squad's EURO 2024 Diary Room as Three Lions head into the quarter-final
UEFA EURO 2024: HOMEPAGE
The Real Madrid midfielder scored the Three Lions’ last-gasp equaliser to take the game to extra time, before Harry Kane headed home the goal to seal a 2-1 win for Gareth Southgate’s side.
And Bellingham has been recalling those final moments of the game in Gelsenkirchen, where England found themselves 1-0 down in the last minute of stoppage time before his overhead volley after Marc Guéhi’s flick-on from a Kyle Walker throw-in, prompted wild celebrations.
"It was an emotional rollercoaster really, and probably not the most enjoyable way that you want to win a game,” said Bellingham, speaking at England’s EURO 2024 Diary Room.
"You want feel comfortable and in control, but you've got to find ways to win, even if it means overhead kicks in 90 plus five minutes.
Diary Room: Jude Bellingham
The Three Lions midfielder pops into the EURO 2024 Diary Room as England advance to the quarter-finals
"The difference in emotion is huge – it's one minute being dead and buried, as I saw the Slovakia bench all ready to run on and you feel a bit disheartened and a bit gutted.
“It's not the way I would've wanted it to end – I'm having a good time here with all the lads and the staff and one moment later, it all changes.
"You start believing that we could create one more chance and luckily we got it in.”
Unbelievable.pic.twitter.com/pMwe1TDhKa
— England (@England) June 30, 2024
Bellingham also used his Diary Room visit to pay a special tribute to Guéhi, whose header set up the equaliser having already been one of England’s best performers in the four games at EURO 2024 so far.
"Marc probably made the best flick-on header in England history, and he'll never take any credit for it, but it's important he knows how appreciative I am and the team is for his contribution,” added Bellingham.
"He's the most humble geezer, he thought I'd let him get away with a little handshake but he's just set up the most important goal of my life.
"I'm really big on giving people their flowers, especially when they've been as good as he has so far this tournament.
"He's only a little bit older than me, but when you speak to him or are around him, you get the idea that he's like 40 and played three careers!
"He's such a nice guy, you forget about his physical presence and playing against him. Whenever I see him going for headers, I think it's nice-guy Marc and then boom, it's not-so-nice Marc!
"He's a brilliant guy, uncle Marc!”
You can see all of our Diary Room entries on our UEFA EURO 2024 homepage.