July 6th 2024.
England's journey to European glory continued as they beat Switzerland on penalties to secure a spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Despite a change in their system, the team once again failed to impress in their match against Switzerland in Dusseldorf. It wasn't until the 80th minute, when Bukayo Saka equalized the score, that England showed any signs of life. This came shortly after Breel Embolo had given Switzerland a late lead.
Both teams seemed to struggle with fatigue and lack of creativity in extra time. However, England managed to keep their composure during the penalty shootout and scored all five of their attempts, securing their place in the semi-finals.
The match started off slow for England, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford having very little to do. He was unable to stop Embolo's tap-in goal, but made a crucial save during the shootout.
Defender Kyle Walker had another subpar performance, lacking the intensity he usually brings to the game. He also lost his man during Switzerland's winning goal. John Stones, on the other hand, had a solid defensive performance but may regret not being able to prevent the cross that led to Switzerland's goal.
Ezri Konsa, who was filling in for the suspended Marc Guehi, had an impressive start for England, making several crucial blocks and being a strong presence during set-pieces. He was only substituted due to tactical changes after Switzerland took the lead.
On the left side, Kieran Trippier showed some improvement, but it wasn't enough to solve England's issues in that area. The real star of the match was Bukayo Saka, who not only scored the equalizer but was also a constant threat down the right side. He even redeemed himself for missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final by scoring in the shootout.
In midfield, Declan Rice had a tough time, but did show some quality at both ends of the pitch. Kobbie Mainoo, who was called up to the team at the last minute, impressed with his link-up play and dribbling skills. However, his performance did dip in the second half.
Jude Bellingham, who had a memorable goal in the previous match, was mostly anonymous in this game. He showed some moments of brilliance, but ultimately couldn't make a significant impact. Phil Foden also struggled to make an impact, despite having more freedom on the pitch.
Captain Harry Kane once again had a quiet game, barely touching the ball in the first half and looking off the pace. He was eventually substituted in the 80th minute for Ivan Toney, who didn't have much of an impact but did score a penalty in the shootout.
The subs who came on later in the game, such as Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Luke Shaw, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, didn't have a major impact but were able to contribute to England's victory. It was Alexander-Arnold's decisive penalty that ultimately secured England's spot in the semi-finals.
Overall, it was a tense and underwhelming match for England, but their resilience and composure during the penalty shootout ultimately led them to victory. They are now just two games away from achieving European glory.
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