The Ferrari that stalled: England’s narrow escape against Slovakia

The current England squad is like a Ferrari—glimmering with talent but sputtering in the crucial moments. Throughout the group stage, Gareth Southgate’s men looked devoid of rhythm, resembling a powerful machine that refused to roar into life. Despite their struggles, they scraped their way into the knockout rounds, where in Gelsenkirchen, against a disciplined Slovakia, the engine continued to cough and sputter. But sometimes, football turns on moments of daring. And on this night, Southgate decided to gamble big—a gamble that flirted with disaster before blossoming into triumph. 

This was reminiscent of a moment etched deep in England’s football folklore. In the blistering heat of Naples during the 1990 World Cup, Sir Bobby Robson made a courageous substitution in the quarterfinal against Cameroon. With England trailing 2-1, he withdrew the battle-hardened defender Terry Butcher and threw in Trevor Steven, adding verve to England’s midfield. The switch from a 5-3-2 to a 4-4-2 proved decisive. England clawed their way back, eventually winning 3-2. 

But Southgate’s roll of the dice in Gelsenkirchen was even riskier. With England running out of time and ideas, he pulled off the mercurial Phil Foden—a player capable of producing magic at any moment—and sent on Ivan Toney, a striker who not long ago was on the verge of representing Jamaica. It was an audacious move that raised eyebrows across the stadium. Yet, somehow, Toney slipped into his role like the driver who finally understood how to unlock the Ferrari’s hidden power. 

England had been lethargic for much of the game. Schranz’s goal for Slovakia, coming midway through the first half, sent the Three Lions into a spiral of frustration. The midfield looked disjointed, unable to connect with the front line. Kane and company were isolated, their shots few and feeble. The defence, normally reliable, appeared skittish. As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, the atmosphere grew heavy with a sense of impending failure. 

Then, the electronic board flashed six minutes of added time—six minutes for salvation. Kyle Walker launched a long throw-in, flicked on delicately by Marc Guehi. The ball looped tantalizingly in the air, and there was Jude Bellingham, soaring like Ronaldo in his prime. Time seemed to freeze as Bellingham’s acrobatic overhead kick found the back of the net—a touch of Madrid in the heart of Gelsenkirchen. England were alive, by the skin of their teeth. 

Extra-time began with renewed urgency. Eberechi Eze, who had injected creativity after his introduction, rifled a shot across the box. It found Toney at the far post, who rose with perfect timing to nod the ball back across goal. And waiting, as ever, was Harry Kane, England’s talisman, to drive the header home. From despair to delirium, the turnaround was complete. 

Yet beneath the euphoria lies an uncomfortable truth. England’s performance for much of the match was pedestrian at best. Their midfield lacked bite, their attack was toothless, and their defence wobbled against a resolute Slovakian side. There was no denying that this victory had been snatched from the jaws of defeat, a narrow escape that left Slovakia tasting the bitterness of missed opportunity. 

Southgate’s Ferrari roared to life in the end, but it remains a temperamental beast. The road ahead will demand more than moments of inspiration and bold substitutions. If England is to go further in this tournament, the engine must fire from the outset—not sputter to life in the dying moments.

Note: Excerpts from the The Guardian

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar 

Euro Shocker: Belgium Stun by Slovakia

At the start of the last decade, Belgium’s "Golden Generation" became a familiar phrase in football discussions. After the era of Enzo Scifo and Jan Ceulemans, a wave of young, promising talent—Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku—seemed poised to lead the Red Devils to new heights. Expectations were sky-high, yet despite their skill and promise, Belgium’s journey has been marked by a sense of unfulfilled potential. A recent defeat to Slovakia in Frankfurt has only underscored this narrative, with Belgium’s prized generation now showing signs of fracture.

The match began in an unsettling fashion for Belgium. Within seven minutes, a defensive lapse left space for Ivan Schranz, whose composed finish put Slovakia ahead. The Belgian defense appeared scattered, and in the opening half, they left critical gaps that Slovakia readily exploited. Lukaku, spearheading Belgium’s attack, was active but lacked the clinical edge. He generated more expected goals (xG) than Slovakia’s entire side and displayed flashes of brilliance, yet inconsistency marred his performance. His first clear finish was overruled due to a narrow offside call, and other opportunities slipped by due to heavy touches and misplaced efforts.

Late in the game, Lukaku found the net once more, only to be denied by VAR, which detected a handball from Openda in the buildup—a fine margin identified by Snickometer technology, more commonly seen in cricket’s LBW calls. Before this disallowed goal, Belgium had squandered several chances, with Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, and Johan Bakayoko each missing their mark.

Perhaps the most confounding moment came from Jeremy Doku. When tracking back to neutralize Slovakia’s first major attack, Doku regained possession in his own box but opted for a short pass to Wout Faes. Schranz quickly intercepted, and a chaotic sequence ensued. Robert Bozenik’s initial strike was blocked by Koen Casteels, but Schranz capitalized on the rebound, driving the ball low and decisively across the goal.

As the final whistle blew, Belgium’s Golden Generation was left to contemplate a puzzlingly subdued performance against Slovakia’s underdog side. For a team so often lauded for their skill and depth, this match exposed a familiar frustration: an undeniable abundance of talent without the consistency to match it. Once again, the Red Devils are left questioning how to bridge the gap between promise and achievement.

Note: Excerpts from the The Guardian

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Fall of a Champion: How Slovakia Exposed Italy’s Decline at the 2010 World Cup

Italy’s defeat to Slovakia was not merely a dramatic result — it was a stunning conclusion to a match that encapsulated both the highs of underdog triumph and the lows of a fallen champion. The final 10 minutes delivered all the intensity and chaos the 2010 World Cup had been missing. Yet for most of the game, Italy were second-best, outpaced and outmanoeuvred by a younger, more energetic Slovakian side. In their final moments, Marcello Lippi’s team displayed a flicker of their old form, but it came too late.

Slovakia deserved their 3-2 victory. Italy, despite a late rally, did not. A key moment came just after 30 minutes when Fabio Cannavaro, the Italian captain and hero of 2006, resorted to a cynical foul on Juraj Kucka and smiled as he received a yellow card. It seemed a resigned gesture, a veteran acknowledging the inevitable. Moments later, he could have seen red for a second foul on Marek Hamsik, and only referee Howard Webb’s leniency saved him.

This Italy side bore little resemblance to the team that conceded just two goals en route to winning the 2006 World Cup. Their sluggish performance against New Zealand — where they scraped a draw thanks to a questionable penalty — was a precursor to their downfall here. Lippi had admitted a lack of creativity after that game, and those same deficiencies were exposed by a Slovakian team that offered more resistance and tactical clarity.

Slovakia took the lead in the 25th minute, capitalizing on a poor pass from Daniele De Rossi. Kucka intercepted easily and set up Robert Vittek, who beat Federico Marchetti with a quick shot from the edge of the area. Marchetti might have done better — he appeared unready for the early strike.

There were few highlights before halftime. Italy’s best moment came from a defensive header by Martin Skrtel that went over his own bar, while Kucka narrowly missed a spectacular volley from distance. At the other end, Ricardo Montolivo squandered a chance with a mishit volley.

Lippi introduced substitutes at the break and later brought on Andrea Pirlo, who had been injured until then. Pirlo tried to orchestrate play, and Fabio Quagliarella came close with a shot cleared on the line by Skrtel. But Italy’s urgency left them vulnerable at the back, and Slovakia’s pace began to tell.

Vittek’s second goal, coming after a poorly defended corner, underscored Italy’s defensive frailty. Hamsik recycled the ball back into the area, and Vittek finished at the near post with minimal resistance.

Only then did Italy show signs of life. Di Natale pulled a goal back after Quagliarella’s effort was partially saved. Moments later, Quagliarella thought he had equalized, but was marginally offside. Slovakia quickly responded with a third — substitute Kamil Kopunek ran unmarked onto a long throw and lofted the ball over Marchetti.

Quagliarella’s stunning chip in stoppage time made it 3-2 and set up a frantic finish, but Italy had run out of time — and, some might argue, credibility.

After the match, Lippi took full responsibility, stating, “I prepared the team badly.” Yet the core issue was deeper: he had chosen the team poorly, placing faith in ageing veterans. Players like Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso, both nearing retirement, had little to offer against the youthful vigour of Slovakia.

Italy’s group-stage exit marked the first time both finalists from the previous World Cup failed to progress beyond the first round in the next tournament. France had already exited ignominiously, and now the defending champions followed them out.

Cannavaro, almost 37, looked a shadow of the player who led Italy to glory four years earlier. Gattuso, likewise, was past his prime. Lippi’s insistence that these were still Italy’s best options now appears misguided. If there is no younger talent ready to step in, then Italy must undertake a full rebuild of its footballing structure, starting from youth development.

European teams overall have struggled in this tournament. While Italy and France faltered, even England stumbled through an unconvincing group stage. In contrast, the teams from North and South America — notably Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and the United States — played with purpose and adaptability.

Vittek, Slovakia’s hero, acknowledged the unexpected nature of their dominance: “We didn’t expect to be so in control, but we were the better team and that’s why we are advancing.” Slovakia started cautiously, but once they realized Italy posed little threat, they grew in confidence and seized control of the match.

Italy’s late resurgence only served to highlight their earlier lethargy. Their inability to defend their title with honour or urgency was evident from the start of the tournament. In the end, they were a team clinging to past glories and incapable of meeting the current moment.

The image of Quagliarella weeping at the final whistle — after scoring and fighting hard — stood in stark contrast to the broader indifference shown by many of his teammates. He seemed one of the few who genuinely cared.

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello, Italy’s native son, was coaching England — a decision that now makes more sense. He, at least, saw the writing on the wall. Italy must now begin again, humbled and outplayed, with no excuses left.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar