England has booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after a thrilling victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, with England eventually prevailing 4-3 on penalties.
The game got off to a dramatic start, with England taking the lead through a Harry Kane goal in the 12th minute. Switzerland fought back, however, and equalized through a goal from Xherdan Shaqiri just before half-time. The Swiss then took the lead in the second half thanks to a strike from Breel Embolo.
But England were not to be denied, and they pulled level with just minutes remaining through a goal from Jadon Sancho. The match went into extra time, but neither team could find a winner, sending the game to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, both teams were perfect until Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji missed his spot-kick, allowing England to claim victory with a successful penalty from Phil Foden.
The win sees England progress to the semi-finals of the tournament, where they will face either France or Portugal. The Three Lions will be hoping to go one step further than their runner-up finish in Euro 2020 and secure their first major international trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
Manager Gareth Southgate praised his team’s resilience and composure in the shootout, saying, “I’m incredibly proud of the players for the way they fought back and held their nerve in the penalty shootout. We know we still have work to do, but we are confident that we can continue to compete at this level and hopefully bring the trophy home.”
England’s victory has sparked celebrations across the country, with fans hoping that this could finally be the year that football comes home. The team will now turn their attention to the semi-finals, where they will be looking to continue their impressive run and secure a place in the final.