ENGLAND showed steadiness from the penalty area to eliminate Switzerland, 1-1 (5-3 penalties), in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Sunday at Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Switzerland took a 1-0 lead in the 75th minute courtesy of a conversion from Breel Embolo, but England answered with a connection from Bukayo Saka five minutes later to force a deadlock.
In the penalty shootout, England’s Cole Palmer quickly took a 1-0 lead after a successful connection, while Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji missed on the other end.
England knocked down the next three kicks from Jude Bellingham, Saka, and Ivan Toney, same with Switzerland from Fabian Schar, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Zeki Armdouni for a 4-3 lead by the former.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then wrapped up the quarterfinals win for England as he connected his squad’s fifth penalty kick over the defense of Switzerland’s Yann Sommer.
“The team showed a lot of character, a lot of belief, heart and spirit out there,” Alexander-Arnold said. “We knew it was going to be tight but whatever it takes, no matter what, we win and that’s all that matters.”
England will next battle Netherlands in a knockout semifinals round on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the BVB Stadion Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany.
Netherlands earned their way into the semifinals after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Turkey over at the Olympiastadion Berlin in Berlin, Germany.
Samet Akaydin gave Turkey a 1-0 edge following a 35th-minute conversions, but Netherlands managed to level the score in the second half via a Stefan De Vrij’s 70th-minute hit.
Netherlands surged ahead six minutes later as Turkey’s Mert Muldur committed a costly own goal violation while trying to thwart an opponent’s attack.
Meanwhile, the other semifinals match will feature one-time World Cup champion France and Spain on Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning in the Philippines) at the Munich Football Arena./PN
