England are heading to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after overcoming adversity and trauma to defeat Switzerland on penalties.
Murat Yakin‘s side had taken the lead late in the second half through a Breel Embolo goal, but a moment of individual brilliance from Bukayo Saka saw England force the game to extra time.
With tensions rising, the game went to penalties, and England overcame nightmares of Euro 2020 to confidently dispatch all five penalties.
Jordan Pickford denied Manuel Akanji to give England the advantage, and it was Trent Alexander-Arnold who would step up to send the Three Lions into Euro ecstasy.
Gareth Southgate‘s charges will now face the winner of Netherlands or Turkey on Wednesday 10th July, for a place in the Euro 2024 final.
Southgate made a wholesale system change in preparation for the threat offered by Switzerland, switching from the 4-2-3-1 formation used previously in Euro 2024, to line-up in a 3-4-2-1 shape.
Whilst a new formation for this current European Championship campaign, Southgate has had success with a back three previously, operating one throughout his first tournament in charge at the 2018 World Cup, and during Euro 2020, when defeating Germany in England’s round of 16 tie.
Pickford continued in the England goal, and in front of the Everton goalkeeper, was a back three consisting of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa, who came into the side to replace the suspended Marc Guehi.
At wing-back, Southgate opted to go with Saka on the right-hand side and Kieran Tripper on the left, with Luke Shaw deemed only fit enough for a place on the bench.
Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo were entrusted to form the two-man Three Lions midfield pivot.
With England only scoring four goals in their four Euro 2024 matches, and looking rather devoid of creativity for large portions of those previous fixtures, Southgate had looked to tweak the formation in order to maximise the prowess of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, who were both utilised as inverted ’10s’ in the 3-4-2-1 formation.
Captain Harry Kane, the scorer of the extra-time winner versus Slovakia, retained his position, leading the English attack.
Yakin named an unchanged side from the Swiss Nati’s emphatic 2-0 victory over Italy in the round of 16.
Lining up in their familiar 3-4-2-1 formation, which England had chosen to match, Yann Sommer retained his position in goal.
The Red Crosses have only conceded three times during Euro 2024 and their back three consisted of Ricardo Rodriguez, Akanji and Fabian Schär.
At wing-back, Michel Aebischer and Fabian Rieder continued, with a midfield pivot of Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler.
The Switzerland attacking three were Ruben Vargas, Dan Ndoye and Embolo and they would be looking to fire Yakin’s men into the semi-finals.
In the last meeting between the two sides, England reigned victorious 2-1 in an international friendly.
Southgate’s men began promisingly, a progressive pass from Rice found Foden through the Swiss lines, and he set Saka to deliver a dangerous ball into the Switzerland penalty area.
Switzerland responded by finding Embolo in plenty of space just inside the English half, and a slip from Walker allowed Aebsicher to fire the ball into the England 18-yard box, but Konsa was alert to deal with the danger.
Both sides enjoyed spells in possession throughout the first 15 minutes. A couple of Switzerland crosses were dealt with comfortably, whilst, at the other end of the pitch, some key interceptions stopped England from occupying threatening positions.
The first real effort on goal occurred in the 21st minute, however an attempt on goal might be a generous description, as a Kane header from a corner could only be misdirected harmlessly wide.
England were having joy through Saka on the right-hand side, the Arsenal winger was consistently beating Aebischer, and getting in behind the Swiss defence, however, his array-driven crosses could only find Switzerland defenders.
With a semi-final berth at stake, both sides were rather risk-averse throughout the first half, resulting in a rather cagey affair with limited opportunities.
As the game dwindled to half-time, the dangerman Saka beat Aebischer once again and pulled the ball back to Mainoo, however as an opening at goal suddenly began to appear, Xhaka managed to make a crucial tackle to deny an effort on goal from close range and divert the ball out for a corner.
Referee Daniele Orsato brought proceedings at the Düsseldorf Arena to a halt, with a tense affair generating only one wayward effort on goal during the first half.
Both sides returned for the second period unchanged and the Swiss Nati would restart the match after the interval.
The Three Lions started strongly, Bellingham received the ball in the half spaces and drove at the Switzerland defence, resulting in a blocked effort from Saka.
In the 51st minute, the quarter-final tie saw its first effort on target. Embolo had advanced into the England penalty area, and with his back to goal the AS Monaco striker pivoted to to fire an effort at the Three Lions goal, but Embolo failed to muster significant connection, and Pickford could comfortably collect the ball.
Embolo would once again threaten the English goal, a dangerous delivery from Rodriguez was directed towards the Swiss forward, but Konsa defended brilliantly under immense physical pressure to prevent any meaningful contact.
With both sides struggling to create any clear-cut chances, Yakin looked to his bench to make changes in the 64th minute, introducing Steven Zuber and Silvan Widmer to replace Rieder and Vargas.
The positive intent nearly made an immediate impact, sustained Switzerland attacking possession saw Aebischer given the opportunity to fire a volley from inside the England box, but the Bologna FC midfielder could only direct his attempt over the target.
With England dropping deeper, Switzerland began to retain more possession in the English half, and, eventually, the sustained pressure from the Swiss Nati resulted in a golden opportunity.
A well-worked Swiss move saw Ndoye receive the ball on the right-hand side, and his fizzed cross was fired into the corridor of uncertainty to send England’s defence into panic.
Walker was the wrong side of Embolo which allowed the Switzerland number 7 to turn the ball into the goal inside the England six-yard box to put Switzerland into a deserved lead in the 75th minute.
Southgate reacted immediately, making three changes as Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer and Luke Shaw were introduced into the foray as England desperately searched for an equaliser to remain in Euro 2024.
The search would not take long…
Saka, England’s most potent attacking threat in the first half, received the ball on the right-hand side of the Switzerland box. Taking matters into his own hands, the Arsenal star boy cut inside and rifled a delightful finish into the bottom left corner of the Switzerland net in the 81st minute. The Three Lions supporters rose in jubilation as the Swiss players sank to the ground, their lead lasting only six minutes.
With momentum now on England’s side, Southgate’s charges surged forward.
Bellingham attempted to create an opening but was met by a wave of Swiss bodies. Eze then found space cutting in from the left flank, but could only drag his effort wide of Sommer’s goal.
The game was heading to extra time but not without a final Switzerland scare. An inviting delivery from Schär set up invitingly for the Swiss attackers queuing up at the back post, but Embolo failed to direct his header goal-bound and Zuber snatched at the resulting chance, blazing over.
Extra time awaited once again, continuing the trend of every Euro 2024 quarter-final entering the extra 30-minute period.
Extra Time
Newfound optimism surrounded the Three Lions. Rice would have the first real chance of the extra period, testing Sommer with a long-range strike, which the Switzerland goalkeeper smartly turned around the post.
The increased urgency and tempo saw England control possession, but wayward passing in the middle of the park allowed Switzerland to regain an element of footing in the match.
Denis Zakaria made his return from injury to replace Ndoye, as Yakin attempted to shore up the Red Crosses who still remained shell-shocked but responded resolutely to see out the first 15 minutes to the referee’s whistle, as tension began to build for both sides.
Players from both sides began to tire, with several looking out on their feet. Southgate would replace Kane with penalty specialist Ivan Toney and Embolo would make way for Switzerland national hero Xherdan Shaqiri.
Trent Alexander-Arnold would also come on for England, as Southgate looked to provide a spark of energy to win the tie with penalties looming.
Shaqiri nearly won the tie in dramatic fashion, whipping a curling corner on target in the dying embers of the game. Fortunately for England, Shaqiri’s effort crashed off the frame of the goal, with Pickford in no man’s land.
Switzerland began to ramp up the pressure with merely minutes remaining, Zeki Amdouni saw his long-range strike saved by Pickford and Widmer would then fire over.
After 120 minutes, the tie remained all square and the lottery of penalties would decide who would make it through to the final four of Euro 2024.
Switzerland are no strangers to penalties at a European Championships, defeating France at Euro 2020 in the round of 16 in a shootout.
However the Swiss Nati would bow out to Spain at Euro 2020 in a devastating penalty quarter-final defeat, and as extra time drew to a close, the Red Crosses would be facing a similar predicament as they hoped to go one better at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions had won all five of their previous outings against the Swiss Nati, including a penalty victory in the Nations League in 2019.
Penalties would be taken at the England end, with Palmer stepping up to take the first penalty.
“Cold” Palmer would swiftly deliver, confidently dispatching his side-footed penalty into the bottom left corner.
It would be Manchester City’s Akanji to take the first Switzerland penalty, and England would strike first blood. A tame penalty was comfortably saved by Pickford down to his left.
Bellingham stepped up to double England’s advantage and the man for the big occasion was not missing. Stuttering in his run-up before rolling the ball into the bottom right corner.
Schär put Switzerland onto the scoreboard, before Saka rectified his demons from the Euro 2020 final as he put England 3-1 up. Shaqiri would then confidently smash his penalty past the outstretched hands of Pickford into the bottom right corner. The advantage still remained with England and Toney would stylistically make it 4-2, methodically strolling to the ball and firing his penalty into the bottom left corner.
Amdouni would step up needing to score to keep Switzerland in the tie, and he would wrong-foot Pickford to score down the middle.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was the man given the responsibility to send England to the Euro 2024 semi-final…
The Liverpool defender would make no mistake, firing his penalty into the top left corner and securing a 5-3 penalty win!
England will play in the Euro 2024 semi-finals!
There could be no one else. A constant attacking threat for England throughout the game, Saka looked to force the initiative, constantly terrorising the Switzerland defence and making surging runs in behind.
It was Saka who stepped up when his country needed him most, delivering an incredible piece of individual quality to equalise and force the tie into extra time.
After missing a penalty for England in the Euro 2020 final, Saka was a victim of cruel abuse and harassment, and tonight he could have shied away from responsibility, but that is not the person Saka is
Instead, the Arsenal man would confidently step up to score his penalty and lead England to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.