Euro 2024 - live: England news and analysis with Gareth Southgate’s side into semi-finals after penalty drama

The Three Lions are through to the last four in Germany and a tie against Netherlands awaits

England fans throw drinks after Saka scores equaliser in Euro match against Switzerland

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:

Euro 2024 live - England into semi-finals

• Gareth Southgate’s side beat Switzerland on penalties to book last-four spot
• Manager praises poise from 12 yards after third win in four shootouts
• Bukayo Saka becomes heartbeat of the team to thrive on pressure
• Jadon Sancho says Saka scored for him and Marcus Rashford after Euro 2020 heartache
• Switzerland hailed as heroes at home after exit on penalties

[8 July 2024 04:00 · Karl Matchett]

Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Cody Gakpo, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and more battle to be top scorer

Footballing greats such as Antonie Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Alan Shearer and Gerd Muller are among those who have won the prestigious prize of the Golden Boot throughout the history of the Euros and the likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Cody Gakpo are hoping to join them this time around.

Some players have got off to a fast start but others have still got plenty of work to do in order to challenge at the top of the standings as we advance through the knockout stages.

[8 July 2024 03:00 · Karl Matchett]

How many own goals have there been at Euro 2024?

Euro 2024 has been a largely enjoyable tournament so far, with plenty of group stage goals having gone in - and the race for the Golden Boot very much still open, with no player currently netting more than two goals.

Plenty of sides have spread the goals around in their opening three matches, with Spain having four different scorers for example and Germany seeing six on the scoresheet already - including two players with a pair of strikes to their name.

But the more remarkable stat might be in a very different type of strike: the own goal, with Euro 2024 quickly becoming the tournament of them.

Across 16 editions of the men’s European Championship before this summer in Germany, a total of just 20 own goals had been scored ever - and a massive 11 of them came in the last version, the cross-Europe tournament held in 2021.

But that record is under threat, with ten scored so far. Here’s a complete list of players to score an own goal this summer:

[8 July 2024 02:00 · Karl Matchett]

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.

Here are The Independent’s player ratings:

[8 July 2024 01:00 · Karl Matchett]

‘You did it for me and Marcus’: Jadon Sancho delights in Bukayo Saka penalty redemption for England

Jadon Sancho has praised Bukayo Saka for his redemptive penalty for England football team at the European Championship that went some way to banishing the memories of their high-profile shootout misses at the previous tournament in 2021.

Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Saka either missed or had their spot kicks saved in the shootout won by Italy at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium. They are all Black players and they received vicious racist abuse on social media afterward.

Saka was one of the five England players to score in the shootout win over Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Saturday and Sancho sent a heartwarming message to his friend.

[7 July 2024 23:59 · Karl Matchett]

Jude Bellingham revels in helping to banish ‘awful memories’ of England penalty shootouts

Jude Bellingham was able to banish “awful memories” of watching previous England penalties as he scored in the shoot-out against Switzerland to help seal a Euro 2024 semi-final spot.

After Bukayo Saka’s fine effort cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener in Dusseldorf, the two sides could not be separated with the game ending 1-1 after extra time.

England were then perfect in the ensuing shoot-out, scoring all five of their opening penalties for the first time in a major tournament thanks to Cole Palmer, Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It was a far cry from the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, where England missed three of their spot-kicks but, while plenty of previous tournaments have also ended in penalty heartache, Gareth Southgate has now overseen three wins in four shoot-outs as manager.

[7 July 2024 23:00 · Karl Matchett]

When are the Euro 2024 semi-finals? Dates, kick-off times and fixture schedule

Euro 2024 nears its finale after the last eight teams were whittled down to four ahead of the semi-finals.

Germany, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey all fell at the quarter-final stage, as Spain set up a mouth-watering clash with France and England squeezed through to face Netherlands.

The semi-finals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday night, before Sunday’s final in Berlin.

Here is the full fixture schedule for the Euro 2024 knockout stages:

[7 July 2024 22:00 · Karl Matchett]

Swiss star Schar hopes Howe sticks with Newcastle if England look for new boss

Newcastle centre-back Fabian Schar hopes his club manager Eddie Howe is not in the frame to replace Gareth Southgate, if the England boss steps down after Euro 2024.

Schar was in the Swiss side beaten by the Three Lions in the quarter-final, and it was put to him that Howe has been mentioned as a possible successor - a notion he’s not fond of.

“Well, actually I hope he will stay at Newcastle. Because if you see the work he’s done over last few years, I think you know he has a lot of quality and knows how to handle a big club and team,” he said.

“I mean, for myself as well, he did very well and I’m really happy to have him as a manager, so hopefully he stays at Newcastle. That’s the only thing I can think of.”

[7 July 2024 21:00 · Karl Matchett]

Euro 2024: Full list of BBC and ITV pundits and commentators

The BBC again shares coverage of the quadrennial continental championship with ITV in the United Kingdom, although both channels will show the final on 14 July.

It’s getting towards time to decide which one you’ll watch on that occasion - and England might yet be there.

Here is the full list of pundits, commentators and presenters for this summer’s coverage:

[7 July 2024 20:00 · Karl Matchett]

Jordan Pickford’s secret penalty cheat sheet revealed after England sink Switzerland at Euro 2024

Jordan Pickford used a secret sheet of notes taped to a drinks bottle to help England triumph over Switzerland in their Euro 2024 quarter-final.

The match finished 1-1 at full-time after Breel Embolo’s second-half goal was soon matched by Bukayo Saka’s trademark finish, and it stayed that way through extra time. But England put together a perfect penalty shootout, scoring all five of their kicks to progress to the semi-finals.

Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney scored before Trent Alexander-Arnold converted the winning kick, after Pickford had saved Switzerland’s first penalty from Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji.

Images later revealed the goalkeeper’s penalty prop.

[7 July 2024 19:00 · Karl Matchett]

England have a Luke Shaw decision to make. It could determine their Euros fate

After 438 minutes of England’s Euro 2024 campaign, the only specialist left-back in the squad finally made his entrance. Gareth Southgate introduced Luke Shaw as part of a triple substitution as the Three Lions chased the game in the quarter-final against Switzerland; soon afterwards the tie was levelled, penalties ensued and those in white jerseys were left celebrating after a perfect five from five.

Progress was, of course, the singular objective of the night in Dusseldorf; England continue their adventure in Germany and, as the manager was at pains to point out afterwards, are now in their third semi-final in four tournaments.

But as attention immediately turns to an upcoming semi-final against the Netherlands, Southgate may feel his triple change gave him more than merely a way back into that game in isolation.