Euro 2024 is entering its final week and only four nations remain involved – with England still one of them following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Switzerland in Dusseldorf. Gareth Southgate had to turn to his substitutes and squad players to get them a late equaliser and subsequent win from 12 yards, with Trent Alexander-Arnold drilling in the decisive effort.
Now they’ll face Netherlands in the last four after their comeback win over Turkey – while Spain and France will meet in the other semi-final.
Gareth Southgate spoke after the game about his pride in the squad overcoming challenges and pointed out this side has overcome the demons of previous tournaments when it comes to penalties: “We’ve been in four and we won three. We got crucified for the one we lost but it’s outcome based,” he said after knocking out the Swiss. “We have more regular penaly takers now than then [against Italy] and more who have been in shootouts. We have a calm process but the players still have to deal with it the way they did.”
Now it’s all about recovery ahead of Wednesday’s meeting in Dortmund, and honing the tactics to help them reach a second men’s European Championship final in three years. Follow all the latest news and England analysis and reaction below:
Toni Kroos apologises for injuring ‘great player’ Pedri in Germany defeat: ‘Not my intention’
Toni Kroos has apologised for injuring Pedri in Germany’s Euro 2024 loss to Spain, insisting it was “not my intention”.
Pedri was forced off in the first few minutes of the quarter-final on Friday (5 July), having hit the turf after a foul from Kroos.
Karl Matchett8 July 2024 06:00
England’s quarter-final reaction gives Gareth Southgate an exciting answer for the future
Another game for England without entertaining the masses, but another step closer to the Euro 2024 final – and perhaps another hint as to where the future lies, whether that comes during this tournament or not.
Not from another one-paced, uninventive display. Not with the supposed tactical shift either, which did little to change the speed of England’s play or the way they constantly checked inside to play safe and create too little. But if the original 90 minutes didn’t contain sufficient drama, their second late equaliser in as many matches and a subsequent penalty shootout victory perhaps offered just enough.
Instead, the big positives for England to take might be from what they didn’t do to start with: the changes made, the introductions of personnel and pace, the ability they clearly possess to alter their approach in important stages of games.
Karl Matchett8 July 2024 05:00
Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Cody Gakpo, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and more battle to be top scorer
Footballing greats such as Antonie Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Alan Shearer and Gerd Muller are among those who have won the prestigious prize of the Golden Boot throughout the history of the Euros and the likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Cody Gakpo are hoping to join them this time around.
Some players have got off to a fast start but others have still got plenty of work to do in order to challenge at the top of the standings as we advance through the knockout stages.
Karl Matchett8 July 2024 04:00
How many own goals have there been at Euro 2024?
Plenty of sides have spread the goals around in their opening three matches, with Spain having four different scorers for example and Germany seeing six on the scoresheet already – including two players with a pair of strikes to their name.
But the more remarkable stat might be in a very different type of strike: the own goal, with Euro 2024 quickly becoming the tournament of them.
Across 16 editions of the men’s European Championship before this summer in Germany, a total of just 20 own goals had been scored ever – and a massive 11 of them came in the last version, the cross-Europe tournament held in 2021.
But that record is under threat, with ten scored so far. Here’s a complete list of players to score an own goal this summer:
Karl Matchett8 July 2024 03:00
England v Switzerland player ratings as Bukayo Saka shines in dramatic Euro 2024 quarter-final
The first half showed flashes of improvement from a slightly altered Three Lions line-up, and Gareth Southgate’s side dominated, but they were too often pedestrian as Switzerland looked comfortable in defence.
Here are The Independent’s player ratings:
Karl Matchett8 July 2024 02:00
‘You did it for me and Marcus’: Jadon Sancho delights in Bukayo Saka penalty redemption for England
Jadon Sancho has praised Bukayo Saka for his redemptive penalty for England football team at the European Championship that went some way to banishing the memories of their high-profile shootout misses at the previous tournament in 2021.
Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Saka either missed or had their spot kicks saved in the shootout won by Italy at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium. They are all Black players and they received vicious racist abuse on social media afterward.
Karl Matchett8 July 2024 01:00
Jude Bellingham revels in helping to banish ‘awful memories’ of England penalty shootouts
Jude Bellingham was able to banish “awful memories” of watching previous England penalties as he scored in the shoot-out against Switzerland to help seal a Euro 2024 semi-final spot.
After Bukayo Saka’s fine effort cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener in Dusseldorf, the two sides could not be separated with the game ending 1-1 after extra time.
It was a far cry from the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, where England missed three of their spot-kicks but, while plenty of previous tournaments have also ended in penalty heartache, Gareth Southgate has now overseen three wins in four shoot-outs as manager.
Karl Matchett7 July 2024 23:59
When are the Euro 2024 semi-finals? Dates, kick-off times and fixture schedule
Germany, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey all fell at the quarter-final stage, as Spain set up a mouth-watering clash with France and England squeezed through to face Netherlands.
The semi-finals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday night, before Sunday’s final in Berlin.
Here is the full fixture schedule for the Euro 2024 knockout stages:
Karl Matchett7 July 2024 23:00
Swiss star Schar hopes Howe sticks with Newcastle if England look for new boss
Newcastle centre-back Fabian Schar hopes his club manager Eddie Howe is not in the frame to replace Gareth Southgate, if the England boss steps down after Euro 2024.
Schar was in the Swiss side beaten by the Three Lions in the quarter-final, and it was put to him that Howe has been mentioned as a possible successor – a notion he’s not fond of.
“Well, actually I hope he will stay at Newcastle. Because if you see the work he’s done over last few years, I think you know he has a lot of quality and knows how to handle a big club and team,” he said.
“I mean, for myself as well, he did very well and I’m really happy to have him as a manager, so hopefully he stays at Newcastle. That’s the only thing I can think of.”
Karl Matchett7 July 2024 22:00
Euro 2024: Full list of BBC and ITV pundits and commentators
It’s getting towards time to decide which one you’ll watch on that occasion – and England might yet be there.
Here is the full list of pundits, commentators and presenters for this summer’s coverage:
Karl Matchett7 July 2024 21:00