- Trent Alexander-Arnold’s penalty fired England into the Euro 2024 semi-finals
- Liverpool star’s spot kick is the second-hardest strike of the tournament so far
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Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s penalty in England’s shootout win over Switzerland has ranked among the hardest strikes of Euro 2024.
After reaching the quarter-finals with a dramatic victory over Slovakia, the Three Lions faced their toughest test of the tournament to date when they took on Switzerland on Saturday.
Breel Embolo broke the deadlock to give the Swiss the lead deep into the second half before Bukayo Saka drew level with a curling strike just minutes later.
Once more Gareth Southgate’s side found themselves facing extra-time and the England boss brought on both Ivan Toney and Alexander-Arnold on as penalties loomed.
Despite their patchy record in shootouts England were faultless from 12 yards, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka and Toney all netting their spot kicks, and Jordan Pickford denying Manuel Akanji.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decisive penalty in England’s win over Switzerland has ranked among the hardest strikes of Euro 2024 so far
The Liverpool star’s effort reached a max speed of 125.6kmph (78mph) before hitting the net
Technology implanted in the adidas match ball ranked the spot kick as the second-hardest strike of the tournament thus far
As the fifth player to step up, the Liverpool star had the chance to fire England into their third major semi-final of Southgate’s reign.
Seemingly uninhibited by the pressure of the hopes of a nation weighing on his shoulders, Alexander-Arnold smashed his strike low to the goalkeeper’s right, securing victory for England and breaking a tournament record in the process.
Clocked by adidas technology in the Fussballliebe match ball, the strike reached a maximum speed of 125.6kmph (78mph) before finding its way into the net, making it the hardest spot kick of the tournament so far.
The only shot from open play to rank higher than the decisive penalty was Slovenia captain Erik Janza’s thunderbolt in their 1-1 draw with Denmark in the Group C opener which reached 128.76kmph (80mph),
In third place for the tournament so far is Razvan Marin’s goal in Romania’s 3-0 win over Ukraine at 125.15kmph (77.7mph).
Only Erik Janza’s thunderbolt in Slovenia’s draw with Denmark clocked in at a higher speed
Goals from the Cody Gakpo and Nuno Mendes round out the top five, with the latter marking the second spot kick to feature as he netted in Portugal’s shootout defeat against France on Friday.
Alexander-Arnold’s effort wasn’t the only strike from an England player to feature in the top ten, however.
Saka’s all-important equaliser at the Dusseldorf Arena came in at number nine, clocking in at 116.21kmph (72.2mph).