Turning the Tide: Jude Bellingham's Heroic Moment in Euro 2024 Knockout Clash

It wasn't supposed to end this way. Jude Bellingham may only be a day over 21, but he was the face of this star-studded England team. Like he had been for Real Madrid, from day one. There's an easy arrogance to Bellingham's being that allows him to do this; to take over teams no 21-year-old should be able to, to dominate the narrative around them in so complete a manner. He had starred in Real Madrid's incredible double-winning season and the general consensus had been that this was a Galactico and a half that Madrid had brought in. And he was supposed to light up Euro 2024 for England.

He had started the tournament with a goal which enhanced that aura, a give-me-that-ball header that lifted England to victory in their opener. But it had been downhill since then. The nadir appeared to be this pre-quarterfinal against unfancied Slovakia.

England looked at sea throughout the match -- outplayed on the counter, unable to penetrate a well-drilled defence in retaliation. For 94 minutes and 31 seconds, they hadn't even kept a legit shot on target. Bellingham had tried hard, as he always does, but pulled off very little. At times he held onto the ball too long, at others he was on a wavelength that no one else in white shared. His touch felt off and he was on a yellow card early on. Towards the end, it felt surprising that he was still on the pitch, with England struggling so hard to create anything meaningful.

That's the thing with a right proper Galactico, though. All it takes is a moment.

When Kyle Walker resorted to a good old-fashioned (long) throw in the 95th minute there was nothing on. Milan Skriniar and Co. had protected their box with supreme ease all day long. When Marc Guehi flicked it on, there wasn't much on, either... for it appeared to be heading behind where everyone was stationed, just behind where Bellingham was standing.

And that's when England's #10 decided this game was his. In the 32nd second of the 94th minute of the game, Jude Bellingham decided to Jude Bellingham the life out of this Slovakian fairytale.

Having already charted out the potential trajectory of the ball, he'd taken a couple of steps back to create space between him and his marker, Denis Vavro. Those two feet of space were all he needed. With the ball flying off Guehi's head, Bellingham flung himself in the air, timing his bicycle kick to perfection.

The connection was so sweet that all Martin Dubravka in the Slovakian goal could do was stand and watch as it arrowed into the near bottom corner. 1-1, and it was no fluke.

This is what Bellingham has done to build up that aura, all season. Since joining Madrid, this is the sixth time he's scored a game-winning or game-equalizing goal in second-half stoppage time (4 for Madrid, 2 now for England).