England reach Euro 2024 semi-final after beating Switzerland 5-3 in dramatic penalty shoot-out

6 July 2024, 19:42 | Updated: 6 July 2024, 20:17

England have beaten Switzerland to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024 with a cool display of penalty-taking.

All five of England’s penalty-takers scored, with Jordan Pickford saving Switzerland’s first spot kick after the teams drew level at 1-1 after extra time.

England will now take on the winner of the second match of the day between the Netherlands and Turkey.

Trent Alexander-Arnold smashed home England's winning penalty.

After sealing the victory he said: "Incredible, these are the goals that we set for ourselves.

"Difficult opponent going behind and the team showed a lot of character, belief, heart and spirit out there.

"We knew it was going to be tight. Whatever it takes and no matter what we win - that is all that matters to us."

"It is what we have practiced. When the gaffer said I was taking one, I enjoy it and I practice it - I knew I had to just execute it.

"All five penalties from us were great."

Former England captain Alan Shearer said: "What pressure? Pressure is for tyres. It's a different generation.

"They don't feel it. How confident were they? They had the belief. They somehow found the energy to get themselves into the semi-final."

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said he thought England had showed a great deal of improvement: "It was wonderful to watch. We have been crying out as a nation, as pundits, as media, for a performance we can be proud of, that we can look at and go, 'That's our boys, that's our team'.

"Today, it wasn't perfect but it was such an improvement.

"Then, nerves of steel when it mattered, when it got down to penalties."

The Prince of Wales was among football fans rejoicing as England won their Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Switzerland on penalties.

The game finished 1-1 but England emerged victorious after a tense penalty shootout which saw them beat their opponents to reach the semi-finals.

William, who is president of the FA, was in the stands at the Dusseldorf Arena watching the match and was seen cheering on England throughout the game.

He was seen out of his seat and punching the air after England equalised in the 80th minute, around five minutes after Switzerland scored the first goal.

Elsewhere, England fans were pictured celebrating Bukayo Saka's equaliser as they watched from a series of screenings, including at BOXPARK, Wembley, Sandown Park, Esher and Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire.

One man crowd-surfed shirtless at Millennium Square in Leeds to celebrate Saka's strike.

The match went to extra time with the two teams drawing 1-1.

In BOXPARK, fans danced to Tubthumping by Chumbawamba singing, "I get knocked down, but I get up again", as they prepared to watch extra time.

After 30 minutes of no goals, the two sides entered into a tense penalty shootout, which England won after netting all five attempts.

The Switzerland clash was Southgate's 100th game in charge of the senior national team and his 24th match as England manager at a major tournament - nine more than anyone else in history.

England are now 2-1 from 4-1 joint favourites to win the Euro 24 tournament, according to bookies.

Spain are the other 2-1 joint favourites.

“England needed to go all the way to a penalty shoot-out to see off Switzerland, but Gareth Southgate has got his side to another major semi-final, and now they are just two victories away from ending 58 years of pain for patriotic punters,” said Coral’s David Stevens.