England superior to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 with a penalty shootout win over Switzerland as Jordan Pickford’s save from Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick proved decisive following a 1-1 draw.
‘Akanji, dive left’ – Jordan Pickford’s water bottle had his penalty notes on it!
Trent Alexander-Arnold slammed dwelling the successful penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney had additionally held their nerve, with Pickford thwarting Akanji, Switzerland’s first taker, to clinch a nail-biting 5-3 shootout win.
England, who will now face Netherlands or Turkey within the semi-finals, had seemed vulnerable to limping out of the match in regular time when Switzerland’s Breel Embolo stole forward of Kyle Walker to poke in Dan Ndoye’s deflected cross from shut vary within the seventy fifth minute.
However Saka, England’s most harmful participant in an unfamiliar proper wing-back position, discovered a leveller shortly afterwards when he minimize inside and curled an excellent end in off the put up from exterior the field.
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Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and followers rejoice England’s win over Switzerland on penalties to achieve the semi-finals of Euro 2024
Saka’s aim got here from England’s first shot on course and Gareth Southgate’s aspect continued to labour in extra-time, surviving heart-in-mouth moments when Xherdan Shaqiri struck the woodwork instantly from a nook and Zeki Amdouni had a shot parried.
None of that mattered ultimately, although, as England saved their cool within the shootout to exorcise the demons of their Euro 2020 remaining defeat on penalties to Italy and undergo to the semis, with their tie going down on Wednesday evening in Dortmund, kick-off 8pm.
There are points for Southgate to type out earlier than that, one problem being to get extra from his out-of-sorts captain Harry Kane, who was changed by Toney earlier than the shootout following a flat show, however England’s dream of a primary trophy since 1966 is alive.
England’s penalty pleasure in photos
Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s penalty
Trent Alexander-Arnold transformed the successful spot kick
England’s gamers begin the celebrations after the successful penalty
Pickford celebrates with Alexander-Arnold afterwards
Gareth Southgate congratulates Jude Bellingham
Evaluation: Saka exhibits his mettle and high quality
England wouldn’t be celebrating a spot within the final 4 with out Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal ahead, England’s most harmful participant all through the competition, scored a shocking equaliser throughout a player-of-the-match efficiency in Dusseldorf.
Much more spectacular, although, was his willingness to then step up and take certainly one of England’s penalties within the shootout, solely three years after the miss that proved so expensive within the remaining of Euro 2020. Not solely that, he transformed it too, demonstrating his high quality and mettle to assist England recover from the road.
Bukayo Saka celebrates after equalising for England in opposition to Switzerland
“I’m going to put it up there,” Saka mentioned to BBC when requested the place the win ranked for him afterwards. “It was special, special for how we fought back and to go to penalties as well.
“The final time we took a penalty shootout on the Euros, everyone knows what occurred. I am so pleased with everybody that we bought over the road.
“I have faith in God. To come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger and today I took the chance, so I’m happy.”
Southgate: One of the best we have performed
England boss Gareth Southgate to BBC:
“I just thought the players were brilliant. It’s the best we have played. I thought we caused them a lot of problems. They are a really good side. They are hard to press, they are hard to defend against, their movement is good.
“To return from behind once more and present the character and resilience we did… Speaking to the gamers about that, successful tournaments is not nearly enjoying properly. It is not nearly that. You have to present different attributes to win and we confirmed all of them tonight.”
On Bukayo Saka’s bravery in taking a penalty within the shootout:
“So brave. He is one of our best, so we were never in any question that he was going to take one. But we all know what he went through.
“To ship as he did…. However not simply him, Trent and Ivan, to come back on and take them as they did; Cole, he is like an previous man in the best way he’s fearless. So an enormous end result for us, an enormous efficiency, and we’re nonetheless in it.
“We played well today and we had to be tactically spot on. I don’t know what people think of us but we are in a third semi-final, so that says a lot about the group.”
Trent: We confirmed coronary heart and spirit
England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold to BBC:
“Incredible. These are the goals that we set for ourselves. Difficult opponent, going behind, and the team showed a lot of character, belief, heart and spirit out there.
“We knew it was going to be tight. No matter it takes, and it doesn’t matter what, we win. That’s all that issues to us.”
“The penalties are what we’ve got practiced. When the gaffer mentioned I used to be taking one, I simply take pleasure in it and I observe it – I knew I needed to simply execute it. All 5 penalties from us have been nice.”
How the penalties were taken
