Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona was philosophical after their heartbreaking Euro 2024 last-16 exit by the hands of England in Gelsenkirchen.
Ivan Schranz put Slovakia forward along with his third purpose of the match after 25 minutes and so they had a number of possibilities to extend their tally which they have been unable to take.
It left the sport within the steadiness till the fifth minute of six added on the finish of 90 minutes, throughout which Jude Bellingham executed an ideal overhead kick from a Kyle Walker lengthy throw to claw England stage and ship the sport to extra-time.
Harry Kane nodded the Euro 2020 runners-up forward simply 53 seconds into additional time and regardless of piling on the stress, Slovakia couldn’t style an equaliser.
“I wish to say once more how happy with my workforce I’m,” Calzona informed uefa.com. “I informed them they did an awesome job, they have been unbelievable.
“We have been on a par with our opponents, we performed attacking soccer and we had possibilities to attain.
“They’re clearly all very dissatisfied as a result of we have been so shut to creating it, however that is soccer.
“We conceded a purpose when there have been just a few seconds left, by a participant who performs (for Actual Madrid). It’s a matter of some centimetres and also you’re punished. Perhaps we might have defended it higher, however that’s what occurs.”
Having toppled Belgium 1-0 of their Group E marketing campaign, finally ending third on targets scored, Calzona nearly added one other scalp with the aspect ranked 45th on the earth.
“I really feel proud, we performed an awesome recreation in opposition to a world-class workforce and one of many favourites. We allowed England little or no, we nearly superior,” he mentioned.
“Sadly, we didn’t make it. In additional time, we spent half the time in our opponents’ half.”
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Schranz, whose third purpose of the match sees him joint-top within the race for the Golden Boot, mentioned the result will hang-out the Slovakian squad for years.
“It’s my third purpose of the match, however so what? It might have been lovely, nice, however we misplaced out on the final second.
“We have now nothing to be indignant about, we’ll take care of it. However perhaps we’ll remorse it for the remainder of our lives. We could not get one other likelihood like this to write down historical past.”
Skipper Milan Skriniar admitted: “It’s exhausting to search out the phrases; we’re all very unhappy. We have been so shut. England have high quality, they pushed us after which swiftly got here the Bellingham purpose.
“It hurts that we conceded within the final minute. We have been perhaps 30 seconds from victory. However I’m actually happy with the entire workforce. It was an incredible journey. We have been able to rewrite Slovakia historical past however, sadly, it went one other approach. I hope we shall be again stronger.”
Teammate David Hancko admitted: “I haven’t been so unhappy about soccer in a very long time.
“I do know it’s only a recreation, however we have been very near one thing particular; one thing we dreamed of.
“We did every part we might to make it occur, however ultimately it turned on its head. Bellingham’s equaliser was a dagger to the guts.”
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