England into Euro 2024 semi-finals after dramatic shootout win over Switzerland
All those hours devoted to studying the psychology of penalty shootouts, of working out how to banish the demons, of removing the randomness – all of it came together to make the difference for Gareth Southgate, who lives to fight another day after yet another act of escapology from England.
There was a heroic contribution from Bukayo Saka, who scored a late equaliser after Breel Embolo’s opener for Switzerland, and a moment of catharsis for the winger when he blanked out his miss against Italy at Euro 2020 and nailed his penalty in the shootout. At that stage, with Switzerland behind after Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanki’s kick, it had to be England going through to the last four.
