England reach Euro 2024 semis on penalties


England
needed
penalties
to
overcome
Switzerland
after
a
dramatic
1-1
draw
in
the
Euro
2024
quarterfinals.

Gareth
Southgate’s
team,
previously
saved
by
a
late
equaliser
against
Slovakia,
fell
behind
again
with
15
minutes
left
when
Breel
Embolo
scored
for
Switzerland.

However,
England
wouldn’t
go
down
without
a
fight.
Bukayo
Saka
answered
with
a
brilliant
goal
just
five
minutes
later.
The
game
went
to
penalties
after
extra
time,
where
goalkeeper
Jordan
Pickford
saved
the
first
Swiss
attempt.

England
then
converted
all
their
penalties
through
Cole
Palmer,
Jude
Bellingham,
Saka,
and
Ivan
Toney.
Substitute
Trent
Alexander-Arnold
stepped
up
to
slam
home
the
winning
penalty,
sending
England
to
the
semi-finals
amidst
a
roar
from
their
supporters.

Southgate
reached
a
milestone
100th
game
in
charge,
but
it
was
a
tense
affair
that
could
have
gone
the
other
way.
England’s
new
three-at-the-back
formation
provided
more
stability,
but
their
attacking
creativity
remained
a
concern.
Similar
to
the
Slovakia
game,
it
took
a
late
goal
from
Saka,
their
first
shot
on
target,
to
force
a
draw.

Despite
the
unconvincing
performance,
England
secured
the
win.
However,
questions
linger
about
their
ability
to
create
chances
consistently.
Southgate
has
a
challenge
to
address
before
their
next
match
against
either
Netherlands
or
Turkey
in
the
semi-finals.