England advanced 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.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold converted their penalties unerringly with Pickford thwarting Akanji, Switzerland’s first taker, to clinch a 5-3 shootout win and set up a last-four showdown with either Netherlands or Turkey.
England had looked at risk of limping out of the tournament in normal time when Switzerland’s Breel Embolo stole ahead of Kyle Walker to poke in Dan Ndoye’s deflected cross from close range in the 75th minute.
But Saka, England’s most dangerous player in an unfamiliar right wing-back role, found a leveller shortly afterwards when he cut inside and curled an outstanding finish in off the post from outside the box.
Saka’s goal came from England’s first shot on target and they continued to labour in extra-time, surviving heart-in-mouth moments when Xherdan Shaqiri struck the woodwork directly from a corner and Zeki Amdouni had a shot parried.
But none of that mattered as they held their nerve in the shootout to exorcise the demons of their Euro 2020 final defeat on penalties to Italy to go through to the semi-finals.
