July 6th 2024.
In a nail-biting match, England emerged victorious over Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, securing their spot in the semi-finals. The Three Lions will now face off against the Netherlands, who also had a tense victory against Turkey to claim their spot in the next round.
Despite not playing at their best, England managed to put on a slightly improved performance against Switzerland, who had previously knocked out defending champions Italy. In the first half, England dominated possession and made some dangerous moves, although they struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.
This trend continued into the second half until Switzerland began to assert their dominance and finally took the lead in the 75th minute, with Breel Embolo scoring a tap-in goal at the back post. At this point, England fans were surely feeling anxious, but their team quickly equalized just five minutes later, with Bukayo Saka cutting through the Swiss defense and scoring a stunning goal from the edge of the box.
With the score tied at 1-1 after extra time, the game was decided by a penalty shootout. England was flawless in their spot-kicks, converting all five, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji's attempt to secure the win for England. The question now on everyone's minds is who will England face in the semi-finals?
As their quarter-final was the first to be played on their side of the draw, England had to wait to find out their opponents. In the other quarter-final, the Netherlands faced off against Turkey, and after a tough battle, the Dutch emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. They will now meet England in an exciting semi-final match.
The Netherlands had to come from behind to claim their victory, as Turkey took an early lead in the 35th minute. But the Dutch team showed their resilience and determination, scoring two goals in just six minutes through Stefan de Vrij and a Mert Muldur own goal. This will be the Netherlands' first semi-final appearance since 2004, and they have proven their worth by defeating Romania in the last 16 and finishing third in their group, which included powerhouses like Poland, Austria, and France.
The semi-final between England and the Netherlands will take place on Wednesday night at 8pm at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund. The final will be on Sunday. On the other side of the draw, France and Spain will face off in a highly anticipated match at the Allianz Arena in Munich. France defeated Portugal on penalties in a tense quarter-final, while Spain knocked out Euro hosts Germany.
After their victory, England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his pride and admiration for his team's performance. He noted that they played well and caused problems for Switzerland with their ball movement, particularly through the threat of Bukayo Saka on the right side. He also praised their resilience and character, as they fought back from behind to secure the win.
Defender Ezri Konsa also shared his emotions, describing the experience as "magical" and a dream come true. He credits Southgate for giving him the opportunity to play in such an important game and believes that the team's spirit and togetherness will lead them to success in the rest of the tournament. With the support and determination of their fans, England hopes to continue their journey towards winning it all.
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