Gareth Southgate hit back at his critics as the England manager said Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane's telling contributions against Slovakia were why he avoids making changes.
Bellingham produced a stunning acrobatic leveller after 94 minutes to keep England's Euro 2024 hopes alive on Sunday.
Captain Kane then headed home just 50 seconds into extra time as England edged into a last-eight meeting with Switzerland after a 2-1 victory over Slovakia.
Some had criticised Southgate for not rolling the changes earlier in the second half, though the England manager says the pair's late heroics prove the decision justified.
"With 15 minutes to go you wonder if he is out on his feet," Southgate said of Bellingham when speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Him and Harry Kane produce those moments and that is why you don't make changes when people are clamouring for more changes. We had enough attacking players on the pitch."
Bellingham's equaliser marked England's latest goal in European Championship history, with his overhead kick timed at 94 minutes and 34 seconds.
England had been woeful up to that point, failing to register a single shot on target after Ivan Schranz's first-half opener.
Yet Southgate believes the tide always seemed set to change after Phil Foden's second-half finish was ruled out for offside and Declan Rice was denied by the woodwork late on.
"I had a funny feeling the game wasn't dead and I know that sounds ridiculous," the former England international added. "We were pushing and probing.
"Ultimately it is the one we have thrown in the box that got us the goal [Bellingham's equaliser]."
Kane scored his 14th goal at major tournaments for England with his well-taken headed finish, with only four European players ever managing more in history.
"He is an extraordinary goal scorer, he is leading the team so well," Southgate said of his talisman. "He has been exceptional as a captain keeping the ship steady.
"He has been through it before and nights like tonight are which the younger ones will refer back to as that is what happens in tournaments."
A meeting with Switzerland in the quarter-finals in Dusseldorf on Saturday will mark Southgate's 100th match in charge of his country, though he says England have not achieved anything yet.
"That's neither here nor there," Southgate responded when asked about the landmark. "We haven't come to get to a quarter-final but to get through a night like tonight was fantastic character and we now play a Swiss team that have been very good.
"We have a couple of days to recover and get ready for them."
Euro 2024 social round-up: The Dutch take over Munich and Ed Sheeran's private performance
The Euro 2024 round of 16 comes to an end on Tuesday.
Romania and the Netherlands are in action in Munich, with their fans creating quite the atmosphere.
Turkiye and Austria face off later on.
And there was also plenty of reaction from the previous matches of the round, too. We've picked out some of the best social media posts.
Private Ed-ucation
England thought they were heading out of the tournament until Jude Bellingham's moment of brilliance against Slovakia on Sunday.
And along with a quarter-final against Switzerland coming as a reward, the Three Lions' squad got an extra treat when pop sensation Ed Sheeran visited their camp to put on a private performance.
Clips of the gig made it onto social media. Perhaps that is what England need to add some spark to their performances?
Oranje takeover
The Dutch fans have been an off-field highlight in Germany, and they were in fantastic voice again as they travelled in their thousands to Munich to cheer on Ronald Koeman's team against Romania.
It was a sea of orange (or Oranje), and it really is some sight.
Fans in unison
But it wasn't just the Dutch fans enjoying themselves in Munich ahead of kick-off.
In fact, supporters of both the Netherlands and Romania joined up to have a sing and dance in the fan park before the match.
Ronaldo's tears
Cristiano Ronaldo was in the limelight on Monday, albeit not for the reason he would have wanted.
The Portugal star missed a penalty in extra time against Slovenia, and relied on his goalkeeper Diogo Costa to get the Selecao out of trouble by making three saves in the shootout.
Ronaldo was in tears at the interval in extra time, though it all worked out in the end. Portugal will face France in the last eight.
CR7's free-kick woes
That penalty was not the only set-piece Ronaldo squandered against Slovenia, with the 39-year-old also trying his luck from free-kicks.
In fact, Ronaldo has now taken 60 free-kicks at major tournaments, yet he has only scored one (against Spain at the 2018 World Cup).
Opta Analyst posted a handy graphic of all those free-kick attempts on X, while also providing a comparison with Lionel Messi, who has scored five out of 53 free-kicks at major tournaments.
Talk about adding insult to injury, guys...
Bellingham's 'most important goal'
Bellingham was the man in England's 'diary room' on Tuesday, and he mentioned how he made sure to give Marc Guehi credit for helping to tee up his overhead kick against Slovakia.
The 21-year-old called it "the most important" goal of his life, too.
There's plenty of spirit in the England camp. Can they translate that into a better performance, though?
Safety first...
Gareth Southgate has come in for plenty of criticism for his conservative tactics at Euro 2024.
And that has seen some accounts join in with what has become something of a pile-on... Including, bizarrely, KFC.
Their official X account posted an AI-generated image of Southgate in a hi-vis, helmet and gloves while frying chicken. Poor old Gareth.
Memphis' new(er) look
Memphis Depay debuted a headband in the group stage, but it looks like he's now switched up the colour from white to black.
He has scored one goal so far, though that came in a defeat to Austria. Will this new look change his luck?
Pogba rules out retirement despite four-year doping ban
Paul Pogba insisted he will not be retiring from football despite his four-year doping ban.
The Frenchman tested positive for doping twice, including for DHEA in September last year, and was handed the sanction in February.
The ruling means he will not be able to play football until August 2027, when he will be 34, but he is awaiting a date for his hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to see if his suspension will be reduced.
"There's still a chance to fight this injustice, which is what I believe it is," he told Sky Italia while attending France's last-16 tie against Belgium at Euro 2024 on Monday.
"Let’s see. Things are hopefully going to get better. I am always positive, but let's see.
"I have never said I am finished, that Paul Pogba doesn't exist anymore. Because Pogba is still here. Today I'm here. I am Pogba. You have never seen me say that I'm finished.
"I still feel like a footballer, I'm still training, and these are now moments where I have to be positive. I'm with my family, spending a lot of time with them, watching my kids grow up."
The rules of Pogba's ban prevent him from playing football professionally or training with Juventus, though the midfielder has continued individual training with coaches.
Asked if the suspension will affect his position at the club, Pogba added: "The latest news is I'm still a Juventus player. So, you need to speak to them.
"I am still contracted to them. I haven't had the chance to speak to them, the sporting director or the coach. I don’t know much, there's a bit of silence. Maybe they're waiting for the appeal to see what happens, but the rest you have to ask them."
Southgate salutes England's 'togetherness and spirit' but acknowledges need for improvement
Gareth Southgate hailed the togetherness and spirit demonstrated by England, but acknowledged the need to improve ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland.
The Three Lions were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way in Germany, but have produced generally underwhelming displays in their four matches so far.
England topped Group B despite winning just one of their three games, and were just seconds away from a humbling last-16 exit against Slovakia, until Jude Bellingham's sublime acrobatic effort spared their blushes.
Harry Kane then completed the turnaround in the early stages of extra time, as Southgate's relieved side scraped through to the last eight by the skin of their teeth.
Nevertheless, the England boss is adamant his players' last-gasp exploits against Slovakia will provide momentum ahead of facing Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday.
"There's no question it will give the whole group belief," said Southgate.
“We know we should be better than we've been, but we've ended up with a lot of young players in important positions and trying to solve problems right the way through the four weeks of the camp.
"But the standout is the way the players are dealing with it. Their togetherness, their spirit."
Southgate referred to the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 as similar instances where England were slow out of the blocks, before going on to reach the semi-finals at each tournament.
"Everybody now, 30 years on, looks back at [Euro] 96 in a different way to how it was at the time," the Three Lions boss added.
"We were bang average against Switzerland [in the opening game at Euro 96]. We were the same against Scotland; Scotland missed a penalty at 1-0 [down]. Spain should have beaten us in a 0-0 draw [in the quarter-finals].
"1990 was similar, so you do go through these moments in tournaments."
The 53-year-old will oversee his 100th England game in charge against Switzerland, becoming only the third Three Lions head coach to reach triple figures after Walter Winterbottom and Bobby Robson.
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