England fans were ecstatic as the Three Lions saved their Euro 2024 campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Slovakia. Well, not all of them…
After Ivan Schranz gave Slovakia a first-half lead, England looked destined to suffer one of the most embarrassing defeats in their history, with the tournament favourites just over a minute away from crashing out at the last 16 stage.
But in the fifth minute of injury time, Jude Bellingham scored a stunning bicycle kick to equalise and send the game to extra-time, where Harry Kane headed in the winner in the 91st minute.
Despite another worrying performance, the initial reaction was of pure ecstasy from fans back home and in Gelsenkirchen, but there were a few who had already given up on Gareth Southgate’s side.
A small portion of supporters were seen leaving the Arena AufSchalke before full-time, and their reactions to finding out about’s Bellingham late equaliser are priceless.
One exasperated England fan was being interviewed by Sky News when word of the goal came in and calmly celebrated before turning around to reveal he was wearing a Bellingham shirt, though it was clear he was disappointed to have left early.
‘Oh God,’ he muttered before being asked if he could re-enter the stadium.
‘No. I’ll take it. I’d rather not get back in than England lose.’
One supporter watching in Brixton being interviewed by BBC News was asked whether Southgate would survive the impending defeat and was mid-sentence interrupted by the equaliser.
‘No way. He’s not coming back after this. I mean he even said himself if they don’t win this tournament he’s out and I think that’s…’
After celebrating she added: ‘I literally said, “they’re going to score while we’re talking to you guys”, and it happened! My lucky charm.
‘Southgate can stay! He can stay!’
In another clip fans walking outside the stadium hear the eruption for the equaliser and attempt to run back in, chanting: ‘Back in we go!’
Prior to the goal, other fans took a dim view of the game with two asked for their opinion of the performance.
‘S**t! S**t! Southgate’s gone isn’t he? He’s gone on his holiday,player’s pick up in two years. That’s all they can do.’
Asked about leaving early, they replied: ‘Only because we know we’ll be caught up in the traffic.’
The morale of the story is simple: Never leave a game of football early.
Fans will be wary of making an early exit for England’s quarter-final on Saturday against Switzerland in Dusseldorf.
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