Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the decisive penalty as England reached the semi-finals of Uefa Euro 2024 by beating Switzerland after a 1-1 draw in Dusseldorf.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji’s penalty – Switzerland’s first of the shoot-out – while Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney also netted.
Bukayo Saka had scored a sumptuous equaliser to bring England level five minutes after the Three Lions fell behind to Breel Embolo’s 75th-minute tap-in.
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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.
Embolo’s goal, which was not against the run of play, had put Switzerland on course for the semi-finals and England on the brink of elimination in Dusseldorf.
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England vs Switzerland: Penalties decide result
Unbeaten Switzerland, who outclassed Italy 2-0 in the round of 16, had looked increasingly dangerous before forward Embolo struck, the momentum seeming 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.
England manager Gareth Southgate responded by introducing Eberechi Eze, Palmer and Luke Shaw for Kieran Trippier, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United defender making his first appearance for five months.
Southgate has clearly seen a fit Shaw as his first choice left-back and the scorer in the 2020 final swiftly became part of an England side reprieved by Saka – who had been deployed as a left wing-back – intervening to telling effect.
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Substitute Xherdan Shaqiri went closest to settling the tie in extra time, hitting the woodwork with an audacious corner as spot kicks loomed.
Declan Rice had also tested Sommer from distance with a long-range strike which was turned behind, and the last attempt of the game required Jordan Pickford to beat Zeki Amdouni’s fierce shot away.
Pickford England’s penalties hero
After Pickford denied Akanji, Fabian Schar, Xherdan Shaqiri and Zeki Amdouni also slotted in coolly as Switzerland forced England to keep their nerve, which they did in supreme style.
England 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.
