England have a Euro 2024 semi-final to look forward to courtesy of a 5-3 penalty-shootout win over Switzerland following a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final at the Merkur-Spiel Arena in Dusseldorf.
A relatively tepid encounter exploded into life when Breel Embolo propelled Switzerland into the lead with 75 minutes on the clock, only for Bukayo Saka to sensationally equalise just five moments later to force extra time.
Murat Yakin's men were in the ascendancy in the final 30, but spot kicks would be required to decide the destiny of both teams, where England scored all five of their penalties for just the second time at a major tournament.
However, Manuel Akanji - who went first for the Rossocrociati - saw his weak attempt easily saved by Jordan Pickford, who witnessed his teammates beat Yann Sommer with every attempt en route to the final four in Gareth Southgate's 100th game in charge.
HIGHLIGHTS
13th min: After an uninspiring start, Declan Rice has the first attempt of the contest from range, but Fabian Schar is in the way to block his 25-yard half-volley.
16th min: Harry Kane beats Fabian Schar to a high ball inside the box and goes down under pressure from the Newcastle United man, but Daniele Orsato is not interested.
21st min: A nice Phil Foden ball over the top finds Saka, but there is no England player ready for the cutback and Schar clears for a corner.
45th min: Michel Aebischer and Ruben Vargas double up on Saka, but he still gets to the byline and tries to pick out Kobbie Mainoo, who is denied by an incredible last-ditch challenge from Granit Xhaka.
HALF TIME: ENGLAND 0-0 SWITZERLAND
51st min: First shot on target for either side as Embolo is played in by Remo Freuler and gets a shot through Ezri Konsa's legs, but it is straight at Pickford.
57th min: Ricardo Rodriguez puts in a dangerous ball destined for Embolo, but Konsa is tight to him and manages to take the sting out of the striker's header, allowing Pickford to gather.
66th min: A headed John Stones clearance only falls out to Aebischer just inside the box, but he executes his volley all wrong and it sails over the top.
75th min: GOAL! ENGLAND 0-1 SWITZERLAND (EMBOLO 75')
Switzerland take the lead through Breel Embolo.#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/HGYx8OprR1
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
75th min: Switzerland draw first blood! The Rossocrociati are patient as Schar plays a cute pass into Ndoye, who immediately plays the ball across the six-yard box. Stones cannot intercept - it takes a slight nick off of his knee - and Embolo gets goal-side of Kyle Walker to tap home!
80th min: GOAL! ENGLAND 1-1 SWITZERLAND (SAKA 80')
A HUGE goal in this #EURO2024 quarter-final!
— England (@England) July 6, 2024
👏 @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/3QG9UEiRG4
80th min: England take just five minutes to respond! And it's a moment of magic from Saka, who cuts inside from the left, is allowed to shoot and curls in a sublime strike in off the far post from 20 yards!
88th min: A promising angle opens up for Eberechi Eze, but he drags his shot wide of Sommer's near post.
90+2 min: A delicious Schar cross is seemingly on the money for Ndoye, but Embolo's flick takes it away from his teammate and a last-gasp chance goes begging.
FULL TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 SWITZERLAND
95th min: Rice has a pop from about 30 yards, and it takes a tremendous one-handed save from Sommer to turn the ball behind.
102nd min: Bellingham has one attempt blocked by Rodriguez, but the ball falls straight back to his feet for a retry, and he curls an effort into the hands of Sommer.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 SWITZERLAND
113th min: The ball drops for Schar at the back post, and the Newcastle United man goes for an audacious half-volley but slices it horribly over the top.
117th min: Xherdan Shaqiri's corner strikes the upright with Pickford beaten and England survive by the skin of their teeth!
119th min: Pickford gets two fists to a Zeki Amdouni strike and Switzerland keep the ball alive, but Widmer volleys over the top at the back post.
FULL TIME IN EXTRA TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 SWITZERLAND
Penalties: Akanji takes a short run-up and goes for a composed penalty, but Pickford goes down to his left and makes a simple save.
MAN OF THE MATCH - BUKAYO SAKA
© Reuters
Confusion was had over whether Bukayo Saka would start as a right winger, right wing-back or even a left wing-back, but no matter where he found himself, he was England's principle threat.
The Arsenal man had Michel Aebischer on toast throughout the first half, curled in an absolutely exquisite equaliser in the dying embers and banished his Euro 2020 penalty curse with a brilliant effort in the shootout. Where would England be without him?
STANDOUT MOMENT
ENGLAND WIN THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT! 🤩#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/06KdlOtLog
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
By the time Daniele Orsato's whistle blew to signal the end of the 120, Kane was long gone, but the captain's penalty deputies - Ivan Toney, Cole Palmer, Saka and Bellingham - needed no lessons in spot-kick composure.
Then came the fifth and final strike through Trent Alexander-Arnold, who only had a few minutes in his legs following his extra-time introduction, but the Liverpool dead-ball specialist held his nerve with aplomb to send England into another semi-final.
BEST STATS
5/5 - England scored all five of their penalties against Switzerland, just the second time in 10 major tournament shootouts that England have scored 100% of their penalties, also doing so at EURO 96 vs Spain (4/4). Nerve. pic.twitter.com/vAkDL5U7NZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2024
4 - Jordan Pickford has saved four of the 14 penalties he has faced in shootouts at major tournaments, twice as many as all other England goalkeepers combined saved between 1990 and 2012 (2 out of 36). Hero. pic.twitter.com/vspFL4aZLG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2024
4 - Bukayo Saka successfully dribbled past Michel Aebischer four times in the first half, already the most one player has beaten another in a single match at #EURO2024. Penetration. #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/7rxQBue3fD
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2024
Bukayo Saka is the first-ever Arsenal player to score for England at both the World Cup and the European Championships. pic.twitter.com/UpdbSAGiM6
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) July 6, 2024
MATCH STATS
Possession: England 52%-48% Switzerland
Shots: England 13-11 Switzerland
Shots on target: England 3-3 Switzerland
Corners: England 4-3 Switzerland
Fouls: England 8-13 Switzerland
LINEUPS
ENGLAND (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Konsa (Palmer 78'), Stones; Trippier (Shaw 78'), Rice, Mainoo (Eze 78'), Saka; Bellingham, Foden (Alexander-Arnold 115'); Kane (Toney 109')
SWITZERLAND (3-4-2-1): Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Rieder (Zuber 63'), Freuler (Sierro 118'), Xhaka, Aebischer (Amdouni 118'); Ndoye (Zakaria 98'), Vargas (Widmer 64'); Embolo (Shaqiri 109')
Ben Knapton
![England manager Gareth Southgate pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "England manager Gareth Southgate pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]")
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