Key events
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “What did you make of the penalty decision last night? It seems to me that Nagelsmann is talking a lot of sense. It was clearly a handball, clearly unintentional, but the key point being that the shot appeared on target and the handball prevented it from reaching the target. Even if Simón made the save, who knows what might have happened from the rebound. Unlucky for Cucurella, no doubt, but since when did sport care about the feelings of players?”
When I saw it I thought it would be given. The last few years have been so confusing that I’m not sure what to think about handball any more. I’m slightly wary about placing too much emphasis on intent, just because cheating has become so sophisticated. So, er, I’ve no idea. You’re welcome!
A bit of Premier League news: West Ham have signed Wolves captain Max Milman for £40m. And he’s a very happy young man.
It’s an amazing feeling to be a West Ham United player. As soon as I was aware of the interest from the club, it was an opportunity I was keen to pursue, so I couldn’t be more delighted to be here.
I really enjoyed working with Julen (Lopetegui) during his time at Wolves – he’s a top-class coach and someone I learned a lot from, and I am confident I will continue to improve as a player under his management here.
France’s semi-final opponents are Spain, who edged a bruising, dramatic match against the hosts Germany.
Back to Portugal v France, a match dominated by a player who hardly touched the ball.
Kieran Trippier on Switzerland and Gareth Southgate
I think what Gareth’s done since he took charge has been nothing but remarkable, really. When I first arrived, we had many meetings about what it means to represent England and he really installed that real togetherness in the squad from when he first took charge to now.
Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, but I think Gareth certainly knows, from myself, the players, what we think of him. He is an unbelievable, unbelievable person and somebody that we all, every single person in this camp, respects.
Switzerland are a very well drilled side, organised. They have got very, very good players. Obviously the 3-5-2 system, they play, they have played that for a long time. So it’s one we’ve worked on really hard this week against that press, and it’s about us delivering now.
Of course, they’ll be going into the game with great motivation to win a quarter-final against England. We’ve always got to respect our opposition. We know that it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re ready. We’ve prepared well, and we’re all calm and really looking forward to the game.
Jude Bellingham’s unusually wired behaviour at Euro 2024 is vaguely reminiscent of Wayne Rooney in 2006. That tournament ended with Rooney being sent off after stamping on Ricardo Carvalho’s babymaker, but Gareth Southgate doesn’t sound too worried about Bellingham.
I’m just so mindful of everything he’s achieving and at that age – or any age – nobody is going to be perfect. You are at times going to react emotionally and without that emotion I don’t think you have the type of player he is. I think he deals with everything so well.
Switzerland remoulded in Xhaka’s image
Switzerland are serious opposition for England. They should have beaten the hosts Germany (although in hindsight Niclas Fullkrug’s injury-time equaliser was a blessing) and they hammered the holders Italy.
The last time England met Switzerland at a major tournament was in the group stage of Euro 2004, when a rampant Wayne Rooney scored twice (even if one should have been an own-goal) in a 3-0 win.
Two England fans arrested in Düsseldorf
Paul MacInnes
UK police have confirmed that two England fans were arrested in Düsseldorf last night after a fight broke out at a bar.
According to footage obtained by the Daily Mail the incident occurred after some some supporters tainted German fans about their defeat to Spain earlier in the day.
Police said the arrests were made “following a small pocket of disorder, which was very swiftly dealt with.”
Estimates were of 6000 fans in the city on the Rhine last night with police saying “the vast majority were extremely well behaved.”
Match reports
It was a bit rude to start this blog and not furnish you with match reports from last night’s games. So here they are.
George Graham’s France are in the semi-finals despite scoring only three times in five games: one penalty and two own-goals. Theories on a postcard please.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our coverage of day 23 of Euro 2024. It’s a big one for England, Switzerland, Turkey and the Netherlands, who are hoping to join Spain and France in the semi-finals. We’ll have reaction to last night’s games and all the buildup to today’s contests.
Let’s start with Julian Nagelsmann’s reaction to Germany’s dramatic defeat to Spain.