England’s pursuit of a major tournament victory remains alive after a dramatic comeback and a 5-3 penalty shootout win over Switzerland secured their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. The match, which ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, saw goalkeeper Jordan Pickford save Switzerland’s first penalty from Manuel Akanji, setting the stage for England’s flawless spot-kicks by Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Despite a lackluster start, the game came to life in the last quarter. Breel Embolo’s goal for Switzerland was quickly countered by Saka’s brilliant equalizer, leading to a tense extra time where Pickford’s saves and a solid defense kept England in the game.
Gareth Southgate’s strategic substitutions proved crucial, with Palmer, Eberechi Eze, and Luke Shaw energizing the team. England’s resilience and perfect penalties, particularly by Saka who redeemed himself from his miss in the Euro 2020 final, have set them up for a semi-final clash against either Turkey or the Netherlands.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Southgate, especially in his 100th match in charge, and keeps England’s hopes alive for their first major tournament win in 58 years.
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