England are through to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after beating Switzerland 5-3 on Saturday and drawing 1-1 in the quarter-finals.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toni and Trent Alexander-Arnold have converted penalties to send England into a semi-final meeting with Turkey or the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday.
Needing a 95th minute equalizer from Bellingham before beating Slovakia in extra time in the last 16, England looked set to lose with 10 minutes remaining.
A nightmare first 75 minutes came to life when Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead.
Saka’s superb strike from outside the box equalized England’s first goal five minutes later.
Manchester City defender Akanji then missed a penalty as Switzerland’s record-breaking run to the quarter-finals of a major tournament continued.
He has now lost five without reaching the semifinals.
England, on the other hand, kept going despite a superb performance from Gareth Southgate’s men.
In his 100th game in charge, Southgate again resisted calls for major personnel changes, but changed his system.
Ezri Konsa started his first international game in place of the suspended Mark Guehy as England switched to a back three.
But, contrary to expectations, Saka remained on the right in a decision inspired by Southgate.
The Arsenal men were the biggest threat in a first half where neither side could find the target.
England have won just one of their previous penalty shootouts at the Euros, including losing to Italy in the final three years ago.
But when Saka made up little of his crucial miss in the Euro 2020 final, they were fine.
