Prince William declares England’s again from the useless win over Slovakia an ’emotional rollercoaster’ as he congratulates the Three Lions in personally written publish on-line

Prince William yesterday declared England’s again from the useless win over Slovakia as an ’emotional rollercoaster’.

The Prince of Wales despatched his congratulations to Gareth Southgate’s males after the Three Lions sealed their place within the quarter finals of the Euros with a dramatic 2-1 win after additional time in opposition to the minnows. 

In a publish on X/ Twitter alongside an image of Jude Bellingham kissing Harry Kane’s brow, William, a eager soccer fan and President of the FA, wrote a jubilant message that learn: ‘Emotional rollercoaster! Let’s go! Quarter finals right here we come! W.’

Captain Kane headed the winner after an enormous scare in opposition to Slovakia.

England appeared getting ready to an embarrassing Euros exit in Gelsenkirchen, just for Bellingham’s spectacular overhead kick to salvage an equaliser deep into stoppage-time.

And skipper Kane delighted the England followers who made up the bulk inside Gelsenkirchen’s 60,000-capacity Area AufSchalke with the decisive aim – because the Three Lions turned their Spherical of 16 showdown on its head in 196 seconds.

It units up England for a quarter-final conflict with Switzerland on Saturday in Dusseldorf and eases among the stress on beleaguered boss Southgate.

William final week flew out to Germany to observe England’s below-par efficiency in a 1-1 draw with Denmark.

The long run king headed to the dressing room on the last whistle in Waldstadion final  Thursday to provide the England squad some calming phrases of encouragement and to elevate the crew’s spirits.

England had been jeered off at half-time as they went in a aim all the way down to Ivan Schranz’s Twenty fifth-strike for the unfancied Slovakians, who’re ranked forty fifth on the planet – 40 locations beneath England. 

And there was evident disbelief as Southgate despatched the identical eleven again on to the sphere for the second interval, with boos ringing out inside two minutes of the restart.

Former internationals had angrily laid into England’s efficiency at half-time throughout ITV’s protection, together with visibly livid former Three Lions full-back Gary Neville.

The ex-Manchester United captain stormed: ‘It’s unlawful that Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t taking part in in a recreation like at the moment.’

He raged, after seeing England battle to check Slovakia’s Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka within the opening interval: ‘We’ve watched this now for 3 and a half video games.

‘We tried to be actually optimistic pre-game, pondering that is going to be the sport – I don’t suppose it’s a case of 1 sub, two subs, I believe he’s bought to get three on the pitch.

‘He’s bought to shift the entire narrative round this recreation as a result of that isn’t altering except he does one thing, beginning now.’

There was a glimmer of hope within the fiftieth minute when Manchester Metropolis’s Phil Foden – again from briefly returning to England for the beginning of his third baby earlier this week – shinned the ball into the web 5 minutes into the second half.

But celebrations have been minimize quick when a VAR checked dominated he was offside and the equaliser was disallowed – earlier than Arsenal’s Declan Rose later hit the publish.

However the temper dramatically modified with Bellingham’s stoppage-time equaliser, which despatched the sport into extra-time – adopted swiftly by Kane’s bullet header to place England in entrance. 

Southgate had made substitutions late in regular time, similar to bringing on Chelsea ahead Cole Palmer, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

Supporters within the crowd included wives and girlfriends of the England gamers in addition to celebrities similar to chart-topping pop star Ed Sheeran.

Excessive temper adjustments because the motion unfolded might be seen on many faces, as Slovakia dominated the primary half and took the lead – earlier than England fought again. 

The gamers had appeared assured when coming into the Area AufSchalke forward of the 5pm kick-off, with supervisor Southgate making one change to his beginning XI following final Tuesday’s underwhelming goalless draw with Slovenia.

He picked Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo rather than Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, as England sought to e-book a spot within the Euros quarter-finals in Germany.

Supporters had been thronging into the German metropolis and calling for the crew to play with out worry and silence critics with a thumping victory – whereas again house in England bars and fan parks have been brimming with pleasure.

Solely 6,500 tickets have been formally obtainable for yesterday’s Spherical of 16 encounter, however hordes greater than that quantity converged on Gelsenkirchen and began elevating their beer glasses six hours earlier than kick-off.

Crowds belted out ‘Soccer’s Coming Residence’, tribute songs to Jarrod Bowen and Phil Foden and the nationwide anthem, amid optimistic hopes England to carry out like potential European champions.

Greater than 30,000 England followers have been regarded as contained in the 60,000-capacity Area AufSchalke, stuffed with hope regardless of lacklustre performances within the group phases.

Three Lions supporters demonstrated as soon as once more that, regardless of lack of official tickets, they’d managed to circumnavigate the system and end up in pressure.

England and Middlesbrough fan Paul Walker, 51, who was together with his 17-year-old daughter Kalea, stated beforehand: ‘It is going to be a dream come true for us to see England play right here in Germany.

‘I reside right here now and make the journey again to England to see the crew at Wembley – we have been fortunate to get tickets within the poll and are so trying ahead to seeing a 3-0 England victory.

‘The crew have been criticised unfairly over the group matches as a result of we got here out high and undefeated.

‘It’s a knock-out match now and we should not play defensively. Now we have bought gamers like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who can put the worry into any crew within the final 16.

‘England have gotten to be on hearth and present Slovakia they’re in cost. Now we have the crew to do this, with among the finest gamers on the planet.’

Mr Walker, who like his teenage daughter wore an England shirt, added: ‘Should you go searching you, you see so many England followers who’ve spent some huge cash and put within the travelling time to get right here.

‘We’re all right here for England and I do know that won’t be misplaced on the gamers – we actually are the crew’s twelfth man.

‘However even when we win this cup I do suppose it’s time for Southgate to depart and I wish to see Jurgen Klopp or Eddie Howe of Newcastle take over. We do want a contemporary begin.

Kalea, who has travelled to Wembley a number of instances along with her father, added cautiously: ‘I believe we are able to win, however in all probability like 2-1.’

Technician Keith Randall, 31, from Sheffield stated: ‘England followers are superb and we assist the boys in each recreation.

‘What folks have to recollect is that they’re representing their nation and that’s the largest honour for them. However I at all times really feel they’re taking part in for us as supporters too.

‘The stadium goes to be principally stuffed with England (followers) and I am unable to think about what the pubs are going to be like again house. Come on England!’

Two Slovenians additionally travelled to assist England and had the flag of St George draped over their shoulders.

Michael Mikla, a 25-year-old from Ljubljana who was together with his good friend Anja, stated: ‘I’ve supported England since I used to be a boy.

‘When England performed Slovenia final week, a draw was an ideal consequence for me as a result of it meant each groups might progress.

The salesperson added: ‘I’d love England to be within the last. The gamers are the perfect they usually play soccer with model.’

England beat Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen of their opening Group C recreation, because of a aim by Actual Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, adopted by a 1-1 draw with Denmark and a goalless stalemate in opposition to Slovenia.

A victory for Southgate’s aspect yesterday would imply dealing with Switzerland within the quarter-finals subsequent Saturday in Dusseldorf, once more at 5pm.

Switzerland yesterday progressed by triumphing 2-0 over reigning champions Italy, who beforehand beat England on penalties within the Euro 2020 last at Wembley.

Yesterday’s Gelsenkirchen conflict got here at some point in need of 18 years since England have been knocked out of the 2006 World Cup in the identical Area AufSchalke venue, defeated on penalties in a quarter-final in opposition to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.