England beat Switzerland in Euro 2024 shootout as three stars knock Harry Kane down a peg

England beat Switzerland in Euro 2024 shootout as three stars knock Harry Kane down a peg

Dusseldorf hosted England’s gripping Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored England’s winning penalty

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning penalty in Dusseldorf to send England through to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. The Three Lions and Switzerland couldn’t be separated during 120 minutes of action, with the 1-1 stalemate forcing a spot-kick battle in which England prevailed.

As Gareth Southgate marches on and looks to make amends for England’s heartbreaking defeat in the Euro 2020 final, Express Sport takes you through four key talking points from a marathon contest…

England pull through

The first thing that struck those inside the Dusseldorf Arena was England’s new three-back formation, with Bukayo Saka unexpectedly starting at right wing-back and Kieran Trippier staying on his unfavoured left side.

The Three Lions grew into the game and even looked promising at times, following an early spell where players looked genuinely bemused by what Southgate was asking of them. Neither side had a shot on target until the 51st minute, and the first was a tame one from Breel Embolo.

But the Swiss forward made up for it a quarter of an hour from regulation time when he poked in a cross from close range, seemingly setting Switzerland on course to victory. Saka had other ideas. With England in panic mode, the Arsenal man found a moment of calm, cut in on his left foot and curled a low shot in off the post from distance.

Xherdan Shaqiri hit the woodwork from a corner in extra-time but a shootout always seemed inevitable. Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Toney and Alexander-Arnold all scored for England, with Jordan Pickford’s save to deny Manuel Akanji proving decisive.

Harry Kane was brought off in extra-time after a lacklustre performance

Three players drag Three Lions through

What character from Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold to rise from the bench, having been overlooked by Southgate at right wing-back when a start seemed inevitable, to score England’s winning penalty.

Saka deserves a huge amount of credit for hauling England back into the contest late on, and he was a menace to Switzerland during the first half, too. Bellingham was a force in the middle of the park, trying the audacious and asking questions of the Swiss when most of his team-mates were falling flat.

Bukayo Saka scored in the match and converted in the shootout

Harry Kane knocked down a peg

England’s captain is no longer their main man. At least not at the moment. When the chips were down against the Swiss and the match was on a knife-edge, Kane was not the player trying to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and the three players mentioned above stepped up to the plate.

Bellingham took charge for spells of the first half, as did Saka. But Kane looked laboured, as if the 36 Bundesliga goals he rattled in for Bayern Munich last season took their toll. And it should be enough to give Southgate food for thought.

The England boss has previously explained that he persists with Kane due to the magical moments he can produce. But what about what he brings to the table, or doesn’t, when that single moment doesn’t arrive? Southgate finally caved in by hauling the skipper off for Toney in the 110th minute.

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Southgate missing a trick

Balance has been the operative word for England at this summer’s tournament. For all their individual talent, the team’s balance has been lacking and it has a lot to do with their lack of pace to run in behind.

Bellingham, Kane, Phil Foden: Three top-level providers. But who is there to provide for? Trippier was dizzyingly high up at left wing-back but he can’t shift through the gears at 33 years old. Kane looks leggy. Foden is best operating in the pockets and Bellingham is an attacking midfielder.

It doesn’t require an expert to realise what’s missing. And it’s made all the more frustrating by the likes of Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen collecting dust on the bench. Something to ponder for Southgate looking ahead to the semis.