Three years after losing the European Championship final on penalties, England players shrugged off the demons of past to beat Switzerland 5-3 in shootout to reach the semifinals of Euro 2024. Following a 1-1 draw in extra time, England converted all their penalties to advance to the last four.
Buykayo Saka who faced racial abuse on social media after missing penalty in last edition equalised for England in the 80th minute with a shot off the post five minutes after Breel Embolo's goal. As it has been the case throughout the tournament, England were cautious in their approach but managed to get over the line in the end.
Along with Saka, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold were the other penalty-takers for England. England captain Harry Kane was unavailable for penalty shootout as he collided with Southgate on the touchline while fighting for possession. Southgate revealed after the game that Kane had a cramp.
Earlier, the Swiss had a chance to score in the extra time but Xherdan Shaqiri's shot hit the frame of the goal from the corner.
"The team showed a lot of character, a lot of belief, heart and spirit out there,” Alexander-Arnold told the BBC. “We knew it was going to be tight but whatever it takes, no matter what, we win and that's all that matters.”
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved the first penalty kick from Manuel Akanji turned out to be the hero for England.
England manager Gareth Southgate who has been criticised since the stalemate against Slovenia expressed his emotions.
“When it's as personal as it's been in the last few weeks, on a human level it's quite difficult,” Southgate said after the game.
Netherlands beat Turkey
Cody Gakpo led Netherlands to the semifinals of the Euro 2024 with a 2-1 win over Turkey. Netherlands came from behind to beat Turkey after Arda Guler's brilliant ball found Samet Akaydin who headed it past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Early in the second half Memphis Depay had a chance to equalise but he failed to make any contact. Four minutes later, Guler would have extended the lead via free-kick but the ball hit the post.
The equaliser came in the 70th minute as Depay's perfect corner found Stefan de Vrij. Four minutes after Stefan's first international goal, Gapko had a shy at the goal and Mert Muldur's final touch led to an own goal leaving Mert Gunok with no chance to save it as he was wrong-footed.
Netherlands and England will now face off in the second semifinal on July 10.
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