Just two days after pulling off a hitch-free election and change of power in London, the English team brought another cheers and smiles home, trumping over Swiss rivals to storm into the EURO2024 semi’s.
Gareth Southgate and his boys will be proud of a job well done. They beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties to reach the Euro semifinals.
It marked a century of games for the England manager, who has won up to 60 games in charge of the Three Lions and guided them into as many semifinals as the previous managers have done.
Switzerland also entered the game looking for their first-ever Euro semi-final. This is their second quarter-final after they lost their first against Spain in 2020.
The Swiss opted for no changes in the lineup, as Swiss coach Murat Yakin decided to stick with the same XI that dispatched holders Italy last time out.
Southgate made one change to the lineup that struggled against Slovenia: Konsa replaced the suspended Guehi.
England also switched formations to a 3-4-2-1 shape, with Bukayo Saka (Player-Of-The-Match) and Trippier playing as wingbacks, while Switzerland also played back three in a 3-4-3 shape.
The first half was a cagey affair. Neither keepers were tested, although shots were taken and blocked, and both teams tried to play safe.
The Swiss struck first, though, in the 75th minute. An attack down the right saw Dan Nfoye whip a crowd into the box, met by a stretching Breel Embolo, who poked it home for the Swiss.
Sadly, England was not out for long as they responded five minutes later with Bukayo Saka after he drifted inwards from his left-wing position and aimed a fizzled shot at goal in the opposite direction, giving England a vital way to re-enter the contest.
Both teams played through the end of regulation time and extra time, with neither able to find a way through again, leading to penalty shootouts.
England converted their first penalty, which Cole Palmer took effortlessly. The ball sent Swiss keeper Yann Sommer the wrong way and slammed into the bottom left corner of the post.
Unfortunately for the Swiss, Manuel Akanji lost the first spot kick, with Jordan Pickford diving in the right direction and saving the take effort, ultimately dooming the Swiss to return home.
England dispatched the rest of their penalties, and the Swiss did so; however, it ended 5-3 for England.
An elated Saka told journalists after the game, “It was special. Last time we had a penalty shootout at the Euros, we all know what happened. I have faith in God to come back from something like that. Today, I took the chance and I’m happy”.
England heads to Dortmund on Friday to play Netherlands in the Semifinals.
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