England booked a semi-final spot at the UEFA Euro 2024 competition after defeating a resilient Switzerland 5-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes of football, with Jordan Pickford the hero of the shootout.

Both teams had a lot to prove and the importance of the match was evident with the presence of the President of Switzerland, Viola Amherd as well as Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne. Prince William in Düsseldorf to support England.

Both teams started on a cautious note with England employing the wing-backs, with three at the back and the Swiss looking to catch their opponents on the break. Despite the quality of attacking talents on the English team, not much was done in terms of goal threats in the first half. The Swiss were very disciplined in keeping their shape and soaking the pressure from Gareth Southgate’s team, with some impressive displays.

Both teams had to wait till the 51st minute of the match to witness the first shot at goal with Switzerland’s Breel Embolo effort not doing much to trouble Pickford in goal. That seemed to have sparked life into the Swiss as they launched at the English and it eventually paid off in the 75th minute.

Dan Ndoye’s deflected low cross slipped past England defender, John Stones and was met at the far post by the outstretched Embolo, as the ball went past the diving Pickford.

This was the second successive knockout fixture that saw England go behind but not for long. Gareth Southgate responded immediately with a triple substitution and within five minutes it was back to all-square as Bukayo Saka curled in a wonderful goal. Now, as the third quarter-final at EURO 2024 went to extra time, it was end to end – that early caution unceremoniously thrown to the wind.

Yann Sommer was the busier keeper, denying Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, but it was Xherdan Shaqiri who came closest to a winner, hitting the post direct from a corner. On to the shoot-out. Pickford denied Akanji and England were impeccable, Saka among the scorers before late replacement Trent Alexander-Arnold sealed a date with the Netherlands in Dortmund.

England would now face the Netherlands, who defeated Turkey 2-1 in the other semi-final, for a place in the UEFA Euro 2024 final.