England beat Switzerland on penalties and kept the dream of EURO 2024 alive

After 120 minutes the score was 1:1Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was the hero of the Three Lions in the penalty shootout when he saved Switzerland’s first penalty from Manuel Akanji. Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold converted their penalties into Send England to the semi-finals against Turkey or the Netherlands on Wednesday in Dortmund.

After Bellingham had to equalize in the 95th minute before they defeated Slovakia in extra time in the round of 16, Ten minutes before the end, England was once again facing defeat. A dull encounter in the first 75 minutes came to life after Breel Embolo put Switzerland in the lead. Saka’s beautiful shot from outside the penalty area equalized Five minutes later, England had their first shot on goal.

Manchester City defender Akanji was then the unfortunate penalty villain as Switzerland’s terrible record in major tournaments quarterfinals continues. You now have lost five without ever reaching a semi-final. In contrast, England march on despite another series of disappointing performances from Gareth Southgate’s men.

In his 100th game as national coach, Southgate again resisted calls for massive personnel changes but he changed his system. Konsa made his first international competition start instead of the suspended Marc Guehi when England switched to a three-man defence. But contrary to expectations, Saka stayed right which turned out to be an inspired decision by Southgate.

The The Arsenal winger was by far the biggest threat in the first half in which neither team managed a shot on goal. Saka overtook Michel Aebischer at will and created the best chance of the first half when Kobbie Mainoo’s attempt was deflected trailing shortly before the half-time whistle. The game continued at the same laborious pace on both sides in the second half.

Embolo finally managed the first shot on goal when his weak attempt was easily saved by Jordan Pickford. Southgate has been repeatedly criticised because he was too slow to influence games with his Substitutions.

July 6, 2024

England makes late changes

Despite with one of the highly talented teams at the tournament it took them a while to fall behind Southgate brings a breath of fresh air into the gameEngland seemed to be heading for a weak exit when Embolo pounced on Dan Ndoye’s deflected cross at the far post and converted it on the rear post. Southgate reacted immediately with PalmerEberechi Eze and Luke Shawwho made his first appearance since February, was sent on.

Within five minutes England were level as sake cut inside and shot flat and hard from the far post into the goalSwitzerland had to thank a brilliant save by Yann Sommer to prevent Declan Rice from scoring a second goal for England at the start of extra time. Harry Kane had to leave the field due to injury after a bad fall into the English coaching bench.

And it was Switzerland came closest in the second half of extra time as Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner hit the crossbar before Pickford parried Zeki Amdouni’s powerful long-range shot. England have won only one of five penalty shootouts at the European Championshipsincluding the defeat to Italy in the final three years ago. But they were perfect from the penalty spot, allowing Saka to ease the pain of his decisive miss in the Euro 2020 final.

July 6, 2024