Euro 2024 - live: England news and analysis with Gareth Southgate’s side preparing for semi-finals
The Three Lions are through to the last four in Germany and a tie against Netherlands awaits
Euro 2024 is entering its final week and only four nations remain involved - with England still one of them following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Switzerland in Dusseldorf. Gareth Southgate had to turn to his substitutes and squad players to get them a late equaliser and subsequent win from 12 yards, with Trent Alexander-Arnold drilling in the decisive effort.
Now they’ll face Netherlands in the last four after their comeback win over Turkey - while Spain and France will meet in the other semi-final.
Gareth Southgate spoke after the game about his pride in the squad overcoming challenges and pointed out this side has overcome the demons of previous tournaments when it comes to penalties: “We’ve been in four and we won three. We got crucified for the one we lost but it’s outcome based,” he said after knocking out the Swiss. “We have more regular penaly takers now than then [against Italy] and more who have been in shootouts. We have a calm process but the players still have to deal with it the way they did.”
Now it’s all about recovery ahead of Wednesday’s meeting in Dortmund, and honing the tactics to help them reach a second men’s European Championship final in three years. Follow all the latest news and England analysis and reaction below:
England v Switzerland player ratings as Bukayo Saka shines in dramatic Euro 2024 quarter-final
England beat Switzerland on penalties in the third quarter-final at Euro 2024, in a nail-biting encounter in Dusseldorf.
The first half showed flashes of improvement from a slightly altered Three Lions line-up, and Gareth Southgate’s side dominated, but they were too often pedestrian as Switzerland looked comfortable in defence.
The second half started in the same way, but the Swiss turned the tables with a spell of dominance that later provoked a surprise goal, with Breel Embolo giving them the lead on the 75th minute.
England looked wary and worried, and the subs came on, but Bukayo Saka rifled in an effort from outside the box to take it to extra time.
That was an equally torrid affair for the England faithful, with Switzerland looking the more likely to get the winner, but the 30 minutes passed and England were heading to penalties once again.
A realm that’s carried plenty of heartbreak for england, but not this time; all five England players scored their efforts, so all it needed was a save from Jordan Pickford to send the Three Lions into the semi-finals.
But how did each player perform? Here are The Independent’s player ratings:
England v Switzerland player ratings as Bukayo Saka shines in quarter-final
England 1-1 Switzerland (5-3 on pens): The Three Lions squeeze through to the semi-finals after a nervy encounter in Dusseldorf
Gareth Southgate opens up on ‘personal’ attacks after guiding England to Euro 2024 semi-final
Gareth Southgate lauded England’s streetwise spot-kick heroes after reaching the Euro 2024 semi-finals and heaped special praise on Bukayo Saka for exorcising his penalty demons against Switzerland.
The manager also admitted some of the “personal” criticism of his management had been “difficult” to take, after sections of the media including former England players took aim at his coaching skills.
Gareth Southgate opens up on ‘personal’ attacks after guiding England to semi-finals
England needed penalties to see off Switzerland in the quarter-finals and afterwards Southgate admitted the criticism hurt
‘I believed in myself’: Bukayo Saka exorcises demons with England penalty
Bukayo Saka said he had belief in himself as he capped a man-of-the-match performance by scoring in the Euro 2024 shoot-out win over Switzerland to book a semi-final slot and banish his penalty demons of three years ago.
Not only did he equalise for England with a fine individual strike to cancel out Breel Embolo’s opener – to make it 1-1 and take the match to extra-time – he took the third of the five penalties all scored by Gareth Southgate’s side to secure a 5-3 win in the shoot-out.
Saka was one of three players who missed his penalty in the Euro 2020 final loss to Italy at Wembley and, as well as Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who were the other takers who failed from 12 yards, was racially abused online in the aftermath.
Since then the Arsenal forward has morphed into a key player for club and country, scoring 10 of the 11 penalties he has taken for the Gunners following the harrowing experience.
‘I believed in myself’: Bukayo Saka exorcises demons with England penalty
Saka took the third of the five penalties all scored by Gareth Southgate’s side to secure a 5-3 win in the shoot-out
Getting past Virgil van Dijk and keeping out Cody Gakpo – Netherlands’ dangermen
England face the Netherlands on Wednesday in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Here, the PA news agency picks out five Dutch players to watch:
Getting past Virgil van Dijk and keeping out Cody Gakpo – Netherlands’ dangermen
Ronald Koeman’s side beat Turkey in the last eight.
England’s record on penalties following shootout win against Switzerland
Switzerland, Euro 2024
Jordan Pickford came up with the goods once again to keep out Manuel Akanji’s effort.
High quality spot kicks from Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold saw England score a perfect set to beat the Swiss 5-3 having settled for a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes following Saka’s equaliser.
England’s record on penalties following shootout win against Switzerland
Italy, Euro 2020
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were the players to miss as England were denied a first major trophy since 1966 after a 1-1 draw with Italy in the final at Wembley.
Jordan Pickford’s saves from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho ultimately counted for nothing.
England’s record on penalties following shootout win against Switzerland
Colombia, 2018 World Cup
Jordan Henderson’s miss did not prove costly as Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Kieran Trippier and Eric Dier scored in a 4-3 England win after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
Colombia had led 3-2 after David Ospina’s save from Henderson but Mateus Uribe hit the bar before Jordan Pickford denied Carlos Bacca.
Southgate led his side to the semi-finals, where they were eventually beaten in extra time by Croatia.
England’s record on penalties following shootout win against Switzerland
Italy, Euro 2012
Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney got England off to an excellent start, particularly with Riccardo Montolivo failing to convert, but misses from Ashley Young and Ashley Cole saw England bow out at the quarter-final stage.
England’s record on penalties following shootout win against Switzerland
Portugal, 2006 World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo fired the winning spot-kick after Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher had been denied.
Portugal were once again indebted to goalkeeper Ricardo – although this time he was only required in his usual role – as they progressed to the last four.
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