England have qualified for the semi-finals of Euro 2024 with a penalty shootout win over Switzerland, with Jordan Pickford’s save from Manuel Akanji’s penalty proving decisive after a 1-1 draw.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney also kept their cool, with Pickford thwarting Akanji, the first Swiss taker, to secure a narrow 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory.
England, who will now face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi-finals, looked set to be eliminated from the tournament in normal time when Switzerland’s Breel Embolo got ahead of Kyle Walker to push home Dan Ndoye’s deflected cross from close range in the 75th minute.
But Saka, England’s most dangerous player in an unusual right-back role, found the equaliser soon after when he cut inside and curled a brilliant finish onto the post from outside the area.
Saka’s goal came from England’s first shot on target and Gareth Southgate’s side continued to struggle in extra time, surviving moments of misery when Xherdan Shaqiri hit the woodwork straight from a corner and Zeki Amdouni saw his shot pushed away.
But none of that mattered in the end as England held their nerve in the penalty shootout to exorcise the demons of their Euro 2020 final penalty shootout defeat to Italy and progress to the semi-finals, their game taking place in Dortmund on Wednesday night, kick-off at 8pm.
English joy after penalties in pictures
Jordan Pickford saves Manuel Akanji’s penalty
Trent Alexander-Arnold converted the winning penalty
England players begin celebrations after winning penalty
Pickford then celebrates with Alexander-Arnold
Gareth Southgate congratulates Jude Bellingham
Analysis: Saka shows his courage and quality
England would not be celebrating their place in the last four without Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal forward, England’s most dangerous player throughout the competition, scored a stunning equaliser in a player of the match performance in Düsseldorf.
Bukayo Saka celebrates England’s equaliser against Switzerland
But what was even more impressive was his willingness to take the lead and take one of England’s penalties in the shootout, just three years after the miss that proved so costly in the Euro 2020 final. And that’s not all, he converted it too, demonstrating his mettle.
