England’s forward Ivan Toney (#17), defender Kyle Walker (#02), defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (#08), goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (#01), and midfielder Declan Rice (#04) celebrated their victory after defeating Switzerland in the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final match at Duesseldorf Arena on July 6, 2024, as reported by AFP.
England’s pursuit of their first major tournament victory in 58 years stayed alive after another dramatic comeback, culminating in a 5-3 penalty shootout triumph over Switzerland. This victory secured their spot in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, scheduled for Wednesday in Dortmund, where they will face either Turkey or the Netherlands.
Following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford emerged as the hero by saving Switzerland’s initial penalty from Manuel Akanji. Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all successfully converted their penalties to propel England into the semi-finals.
The match initially appeared bleak for England, with Switzerland taking the lead through Breel Embolo, only for Bukayo Saka to equalize with a superb strike shortly thereafter. Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji missed a crucial penalty, extending their unfortunate streak of major tournament quarter-final exits without progressing to the semi-finals.
Despite criticism of their performance, England under Gareth Southgate’s management advanced, with Saka notably stating, “We know there are two more games, we can change our lives and make more history that’s not been done before.”
In his 100th match in charge, Southgate made tactical adjustments, including a shift to a back three and timely substitutions that influenced the game’s outcome. Despite challenges, including injuries to key players like Harry Kane, England persevered through extra time and ultimately excelled in the penalty shootout, showcasing their composure and skill from the spot.
Saka, who redeemed himself after a crucial miss in the Euro 2020 final, emphasized the team’s confidence in their penalty-taking abilities, reflecting on their flawless performance in the shootout.
