Bukayo Saka scored a sumptuous equaliser to bring England level five minutes after the Three Lions fell behind to Switzerland in the Uefa Euro 2024 quarter-finals in Dusseldorf.
Arsenal livewire Saka cut inside in familiar style just outside the penalty area on the right and curled a precise finish beyond Yann Sommer to make it 1-1 in the 80th minute.
BUKAYO SAKA LEVELS FOR ENGLAND! 🏴#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/tqNFoTEJ7Y
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
“What a strike,” former England striker Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. “He needs no second invitation to do that. How many times have we seen him do that?”
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Saka goal v Switzerland ‘special’
“He wants to come inside on that favoured left foot and have a pop,” observed Shearer. “He just guides it in off the post. Thank you very much. Big players turn up in big moments. When your country needs them most, they produce something special.”
Breel Embolo’s 75th-minute tap-in had put Switzerland on course for the semi-finals and England on the brink of elimination in Dusseldorf.
Unbeaten Switzerland, who outclassed Italy 2-0 in the round of 16, had looked increasingly dangerous before striker Embolo struck.
The momentum seemed to change with two substitutions made by Murat Yakin midway through the second half, replacing Ruben Vargas and Fabian Rieder with Silvan Widmer and Steven Zuber.
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“Now he’s going to have to make changes,” Euro ’96 top scorer Alan Shearer said of England head coach Gareth Southgate – his team-mate at those finals – after Switzerland went ahead. “Let’s hope it’s not too late.”
Southgate responded by introducing Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer and Luke Shaw for Kieran Trippier, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo.
England vs Switzerland: Extra time again
Shaw had not made an appearance for five months but swiftly became part of an England side reprieved by Saka – who had been deployed as a left wing-back – intervening to telling effect.
England had edged past Slovakia 2-1 after 120 minutes in their round of 16 match, and they were taken to extra time again after Switzerland missed a fine chance to retake the lead seconds before the final whistle.
The winners will play Turkiye or the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00 BST), with the final against Spain or France in Berlin on July 14.
