- England advances to Euro 2024 semi-finals with a 5-3 penalty shootout win over Switzerland after a 1-1 draw.
- Bukayo Saka’s equalizer sends the game to extra time and penalties, where Jordan Pickford’s save secures England’s victory.
- England’s new three-back formation shows promise, but midfield struggles and Harry Kane’s poor finishing are areas for improvement.
England secured a spot in the Euro 2024 semi-finals after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, followed by a 5-3 penalty shootout victory. Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead, but Bukayo Saka’s equalizer sent the game to extra time and penalties. England’s penalty shootout heroics saw them convert all five spot kicks, while Jordan Pickford’s save on Manuel Akanji gave England the advantage.
First Half: England Dominates Possession but Lacks Finishing Touch
England started strong, dominating possession and creating chances, but neither team managed a shot on target. Saka’s whipped cross for Kieran Trippier was slightly too strong, and a late offside flag against Saka ended a dangerous moment for the Three Lions. Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo saw long-range strikes blocked, and cut-backs failed to reach their targets as England continued to push for the opener their bright start perhaps deserved.
Second Half: Switzerland Takes the Lead but England Fights Back
Switzerland started the second half with more intensity, and Embolo scored from a deflected cross. England equalized through Saka’s excellent strike, cutting inside from the right and curling a fierce, low effort into Yann Sommer’s goal. Ebere Eze fizzed wide as the game approached the end of regular time, but there would be no separating the two teams inside 90 minutes.
Extra Time and Penalty Shootout: England’s Nerve-Wracking Victory
The game went to extra time, with both teams creating chances. Sommer had to be active to deny an excellent long-range strike from Rice shortly after the restart, before the Swiss stopper managed to claim an effort from Jude Bellingham. Switzerland ended extra time on top, with Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the post directly from a corner, and Zeki Amdouni stinging the gloves of Pickford with the final act before the penalty shootout.
England Player Ratings
– GK: Jordan Pickford – 7/10 – A few too many aimless kicks forwards but was hardly needed at the back. Made the difference with his penalty save.
– CB: Kyle Walker – 5/10 – Mopped things up with his pace but didn’t offer a whole lot going forwards. Caught out at the back for Embolo’s opener.
– CB: John Stones – 6/10 – Stopped Switzerland’s dynamic forwards and was comfortable stepping out from the back to thread passes forwards. Unfortunate with the deflection for Embolo’s goal.
– CB: Ezri Konsa – 7/10 – Stood tall and repelled everything Switzerland threw at him. A really impressive performance.
– RM: Bukayo Saka – 8/10 – Playing a more attacking role than this position might suggest, Saka produced his best performance of the tournament so far. He had the beating of his defender every time and definitely deserved his goal.
– CM: Kobbie Mainoo – 7/10 – So much composure on the ball. Drove forwards with ease and even flashed some defensive awareness to help out at the back.
– CM: Declan Rice – 6/10 – Helped recycle possession well without ever really managing anything spectacular.
– LM: Kieran Trippier – 5/10 – Who could have guessed that a right-back would look slightly uncomfortable at left wing-back? Trippier didn’t exactly get a whole lot wrong but he always looked like the weak link in this team.
– AM: Jude Bellingham – 6/10 – Really active in the first half but found space a lot harder to come by in the second half.
– AM: Phil Foden – 6/10 – The first half saw Foden enjoying his football but things again became too passive after the break.
– ST: Harry Kane – 4/10 – Seemed to be on a different wavelength to his teammates, many of whom were often questioning why he wasn’t there to collect their cut-backs.
Key Takeaways: England’s Strengths and Weaknesses
– England’s new three-back formation showed promise but needs refinement.
– Bukayo Saka’s equalizer was a highlight of the match, showcasing his skill and composure.
– Jordan Pickford’s penalty save secured England’s win, highlighting his importance in high-pressure situations.
– England’s midfield struggled to create chances, relying on individual efforts from Saka and Mainoo.
– Harry Kane’s lack of involvement and poor finishing were noticeable weaknesses for England.
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