England stepped back from the brink of a Euro 2024 exit again as they secured a semi-final place with victory over Switzerland on penalties in Dusseldorf.
Gareth Southgate’s side, who were rescued by Jude Bellingham’s spectacular late equaliser in the last 16 against Slovakia, were in trouble once more when Breel Embolo stole in at the far post to put Switzerland ahead with only 15 minutes left.
Bukayo Saka then produced a moment of individual brilliance of the sort England have relied on heavily throughout the tournament to equalise with a fierce low shot five minutes later.
Extra time failed to find a winner, England going through with a set of flawless penalties after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s first spot-kick.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka and Ivan Toney were all successful before substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold hammered home the decisive penalty in front of England’s delirious supporters.
They can now look forward to a semi-final against the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday at 20:00 BST. It will be the first time the two countries have faced each other at a major tournament since the group stage of Euro 96.
England’s penalty prowess on show
England manager Southgate was so confident in his collection of penalty takers that he felt able to remove captain and spot-kick expert Harry Kane from the fray with 11 minutes of extra time left.
Kane, who was off the pace throughout, had taken a heavy knock then fallen awkwardly into the dugout before Southgate sent on Toney.
Toney’s penalty expertise has been on show in the Premier League for Brentford, so when it came to penalties, Southgate had an impressive group to seal a semi-final place and the striker did not disappoint.
Palmer – labelled “Cool” Palmer for his nerveless approach from 12 yards at Chelsea – set England on their way before Bellingham, Saka, Arsenal’s penalty taker, and Toney set the stage for Alexander-Arnold’s thunderous finale.
For Saka, it was a moment of redemption after he had the final, decisive penalty saved at Wembley three years ago as Italy beat England to win the last European Championship final on spot-kicks.
It will give Southgate a feeling of security in these nail-biting situations to have those specialists to call on.
