Coverage from Euro 2024 highlights England’s progression to the semi-finals after a dramatic 5-3 victory in penalties against Switzerland, following a thrilling 1-1 draw in Dusseldorf. Jordan Pickford’s crucial save from Manuel Akanji and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s successful decisive penalty sealed England’s triumph.

England secured their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals after defeating Switzerland in a penalty shootout. The match ended 1-1 after regular time, with Jordan Pickford’s crucial save from Manuel Akanji’s penalty ensuring England’s progression.

Trent Alexander-Arnold confidently struck the decisive penalty following successful conversions from Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Ivan Toney. Jordan Pickford’s crucial save against Akanji, Switzerland’s initial shooter, sealed a tense 5-3 shootout victory.

England, slated to encounter the Netherlands in the upcoming semi-finals on Wednesday, seemed on the brink of exiting the tournament during regular play. This occurred after Switzerland’s Breel Embolo outpaced Kyle Walker and poked in Dan Ndoye’s redirected cross kèo nhà cái from close range in the 75th minute.

However, Saka, who was positioned unusually as a right wing-back for England, equalized moments later by skillfully cutting inside and elegantly curling a superb strike past the goalkeeper into the net off the far post from beyond the penalty area.

Saka’s goal materialized from England’s initial shot on target, and Gareth Southgate’s team persisted through extra time, enduring anxious moments when Xherdan Shaqiri hit the crossbar straight from a corner and Zeki Amdouni’s shot was blocked.

However, none of that proved consequential in the final analysis, as England maintained composure during the penalty shootout, dispelling the ghosts of their Euro 2020 final loss to Italy and advancing to the semifinals. Their next match is scheduled for Wednesday night in Dortmund, with the game set to commence at 8pm.

Before that happens, there are challenges for Southgate to address, including extracting better performances from his struggling captain Harry Kane. Kane, who had a lackluster showing and was substituted by Toney before the shootout, needs to regain form. Nevertheless, England’s hopes of claiming their first trophy since 1966 remain intact.

Saka demonstrates his skill and prowess

Sky Sports’ Writer share:

England owes their spot in the semifinals largely to Bukayo Saka. Despite his role as a wing-back, the Arsenal forward, who has been England’s standout performer, netted a spectacular equalizer in Dusseldorf and delivered a match-winning performance, ensuring England’s progression to the last four.

Equally remarkable was his resolve to step forward and shoulder the responsibility of taking a crucial penalty for England during the shootout, a mere three years after his costly miss in the Euro 2020 final. What’s more, he calmly converted the penalty, showcasing both his skill and mental fortitude in guiding England to victory.

“I’ll rate it highly,” Saka told BBC when questioned about the significance of the victory later. “It was truly special, especially considering our comeback and then taking it to penalties.”

“After our recent penalty shootout at the Euros, we all remember the outcome. I couldn’t be prouder of how everyone pulled together to secure our victory.”

“Despite facing adversity, I maintained my faith. Overcoming such challenges was incredibly tough, but I used them as opportunities to grow stronger. Today, I seized the moment, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Southgate said: The best we have played

England’ Gareth Southgate share to BBC news:

I believe the players were absolutely outstanding today. It’s definitely our finest performance yet. We really kept them on their toes throughout the game. They’re a formidable team, difficult to press and even harder to defend against due to their excellent movement.

Once more rallying from behind and demonstrating the character and resilience we did tonight… When I spoke with the players about this, it became clear that winning tournaments requires more than just skill on the field. It demands a display of various other qualities, all of which we exhibited tonight.

Regarding Bukayo Saka’s courageous decision to step up and take a penalty during the shootout:

“He’s incredibly brave. He’s one of our finest, so there was never any doubt he would step up. Yet, we’re all aware of the challenges he faced.”

“To deliver like that… And it wasn’t just him. Trent and Ivan coming on and handling the pressure like they did, and Cole, he’s fearless like an old pro. It’s a massive result for us, a tremendous performance, and we’re still very much in the game.”

“We executed our game plan flawlessly today, and our tactical approach was crucial. Whatever opinions people hold about us, reaching a third semi-final speaks volumes about the strength of our team.”

Trent emphasized, “We displayed tremendous heart and spirit.”

England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold send to BBC:

“Remarkable. These were the objectives we established. Despite a formidable opponent and falling behind, the team displayed tremendous character, belief, and unwavering spirit on the field.”

“We were fully aware it would be a close call. Our commitment is unwavering; victory, by any means necessary, remains our sole focus.”

“We had rehearsed these penalties extensively. When the coach designated me to take one, I approached it with enjoyment and confidence, knowing I just had to deliver. All five of our penalties were executed flawlessly.”