England and Switzerland played to a 1-1 draw after extra time, with England ultimately winning 5-3 on penalties to advance to the semi-finals.

England have once again proven their mettle on the international stage, securing a spot in the semi-finals of a major tournament for the third time in four attempts under the guidance of Gareth Southgate.

The nail-biting encounter against Switzerland in Dusseldorf had fans on the edge of their seats, as it ultimately came down to a penalty shootout to determine the victor.

The tension was palpable as the players lined up for the shootout. Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji stepped up to take his penalty, only to be denied by the brilliant Jordan Pickford, who made a crucial save. This opened the door for Trent Alexander-Arnold to step up and deliver the decisive blow for England, confidently slotting home their fifth penalty to secure the win.

Prior to the shootout drama, the match had seen its fair share of twists and turns. With just 15 minutes remaining in normal time, Breel Embolo managed to break the deadlock and give Switzerland the lead. However, England’s young talent Bukayo Saka had other plans, unleashing a powerful long-range strike that found the back of the net just five minutes later, leveling the game and setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

Throughout the match, both teams struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, resulting in a stalemate for much of the game. The tension only intensified during the extra-time period, with neither side able to find the breakthrough. However, Xherdan Shaqiri came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock with a remarkable effort from a corner, as his strike rattled the angle of the post and bar, leaving England breathing a sigh of relief.

In the end, it was England’s resilience and composure that saw them through to the semi-finals. With Gareth Southgate at the helm, the team has shown tremendous growth and determination, proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

As the tournament progresses, England will undoubtedly be looking to build on this victory and continue their pursuit of glory.