Rio Ferdinand believes it is ‘written in the stars’ that England will go on to win Euro 2024 after they survived a huge scare against Slovakia to progress to the quarter-finals.
Pre-tournament favourites England have underwhelmed so far in Germany and were just moments away from an embarrassing exit at the hands of Slovakia.
The Three Lions once again lacked fluency and potency and it appeared for a long time that Ivan Schranz’s 25th-minute goal would be enough to send Slovakia through to the quarters.
But Jude Bellingham rescued England with a brilliant overhead kick in injury-time before Harry Kane completed the turnaround in the first minute of extra-time, heading home into the Slovakia net to send Three Lions fans into meltdown.
A quarter-final tie with Switzerland awaits Gareth Southgate’s side and Ferdinand now believes England will go all the way and become European champions, three years on from losing on penalties in the last Euros final.
Reacting to England’s last-16 win, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘There comes a time in a tournament when you actually start believing you’re going to win it and I think this was the moment. I really do.
‘On the way back to base camp now, they will be celebrating and having a few beers maybe if they’re lucky.
‘They’re through to the quarter-finals, on the best side of the draw, it’s written in the stars. It’s written! We’re going to win it.
‘Maybe I’m getting carried away but I don’t care, I don’t give a monkeys. I’m getting carried away because I’m an England fan, I’m emotional and I love it.’
On England’s dramatic turnaround, Ferdinand added: ‘Wow, that’s all I’m saying.
‘Last minute goals are what it’s all about. The emotion in that stadium was incredible. We’re sitting there, down in the dumps, for 90 minutes.
‘Everyone is questioning Gareth Southgate and the turnaround, I don’t think it’s down to skill, this was character and personality. Those things win you stuff.’
England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final opponents Switzerland knocked out holders Italy in their first knockout game and Ferdinand expects a ‘tough game’.
‘Switzerland, that’s going to be a tough game,’ he said. ‘I think they’re better than who we played today and can cause us more problems.
‘Slovakia were the better team tonight, they were more structured, composed and controlled. But that character and little bit of quality from England showed.’