England are into the semi-finals of Euro 2024 - but my word they were made to work for it by Switzerland.
Trent Alexander-Arnold slammed home the winning penalty in Dusseldorf as Gareth Southgate's men claimed a shootout triumph, after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes, on a day where Southgate had switched to a back three.
The Three Lions - backed by over 50k England fans in the city - fell behind late in the second half to Breel Embolo's close-range finish, only for Bukayo Saka to immediately respond with a fine finish.
In the shootout, England were perfect from the spot - three years after being denied the continental crown on spot kicks - with Jordan Pickford saving from Manuel Akanji.
Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold rattled home the winner after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney had all found the net from 12 yards.
Now the road to Euro 2024 glory continues...
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Good night
Well it has been quite a day, but that's all from us!
England are into the last four, winning another penalty shootout, and will face Netherlands as they eye a spot in the final of the Euros.
Sutton's verdict on semi-final clash
He told the BBC: "I think it is a 50/50 game. The Dutch have so much quality but England are finding a way to win games. It is tournament football and I am not sure who is going to win it.
"My overall feeling is I am delighted for Gareth Southgate. He has been under pressure and taken a lot of flak and proved people wrong again. They are finding a way into a semi-final.
"I still don't feel like England have played anywhere near what they are capable of. Maybe it will come against the Dutch."
England will face the Dutch
Two quick fire goals for the Netherlands helped them see off Turkey in the quarter-finals.
It means the Dutch will face England in their semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday.
A huge clash with a spot in the final at stake!
Rio singles out 'most important' England star
Rio Ferdinand insists Bukayo Saka is the “most important” England player at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate's men came from behind to draw 1-1 with Switzerland in Dusseldorf. Saka equalised with a brilliant effort after Breel Embolo’s opener for what was his first goal of the tournament. The Arsenal winger found the net in the resultant shootout - alongside four of his colleagues. But Ferdinand saved special praise for Saka and believes he is decisive for England.
Speaking on BBC after the game, the former England defender said: “Everything about him just comes across as being so positive. You can’t help but love him, not only for his football but his personality and the character he’s shown [since Euro 2020]."
Kane reflects on gritty win and Saka's courage
He said: "That's tournament football for you. You have to find a way. When you look at past champions in competitions, they have to go through penalty shootouts. It comes down to moments. For Saka to step up and score that goal was special for him. I was weirdly calm during penalties. We have a lot more players that take them for their club. I know they are comfortable and know Pickford normally saves one.
"I think penalty shootouts are the highest pressure you will feel as a professional footballer. But for him [Sak] to step up like he did after the tough time he had been through [in 2020]. I am really proud of him and proud of everyone. There is one week left. We will see how far we can go."
England fans outnumbered but get last laugh
England fans celebrated a familiar victory in the bars around Düsseldorf tonight.
The Three Lions followers were outnumbered 8-1 in the Old Town. But despite the German and Dutch fans joining forces with the Swiss, it was still the English cheering at the end.
Chelsea fan Carl Hagley, 46, from Portsmouth, told the Mirror: “The other fans have been on our case all day.
“It’s literally anyone but the English for them, but Trent showed balls of steel to send us through. It wasn’t as one sided as we’d hoped, but we’re through. Bring on Dortmund.”
Pickford with all the answers
No wonder he was the hero!
Pickford had printed out notes for every Swiss penalty taker - telling himself which way to dive - and his Akanji prediction was spot on!
Finally, some words from Mr Southgate
"I thought the players were brilliant, it is the best we have played. To come from behind and shown character and resilience we did... it isn't just about playing well.
"It was so brave from Bukayo, he is one of our best and we were never in question he would take one. But we all knew what he went through.
"Huge performance, huge result and we are still in it. We had to be tactically spot on. We are in a third semi-final and it says a lot about the whole group. I thought we had good control."
England's semi-final
A date for your diary.
England's next match will be on Wednesday July, 10 in Dortmund, kicking off at 8pm. They will face either the Netherlands or Turkey, with Spain and France competing in the other half of the draw.
Jude reflects on Swiss triumph
He said: "All in all our best performance of the tournament. I felt we had control and we were generally comfortable defensively, just missing those big chances in attack. Those things you can't measure and can't see - character and mentality - we saw that again in the penalty shootouts. Subs coming on, only had ten kicks and then take a penalty with that much pressure. It is a special bunch of lads in the dressing room."
On his penalty he added: "Sometimes you can step up and miss penalties, it happens, but there's a comfort when you know you're following a process."
Some words from the skipper
Kane was watching on from the bench but the captain said: "Great resilience form the lads to go behind with only 15 minutes to go, to then turn it up a gear and get the goal like we did.
"Bukayo deserves that and then penalties is penalties. I felt comfortable in the lads, we do a lot of preparation for these moments."
Let it out Gareth!
The passion from the England boss. A third semi-final in four tournaments.
Some more from Saka
On coming back from Euros miss... "Of course, I have faith in God, to come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger and today I took my chance so I'm happy."
England's belief and motivation... "It shows how much we want to win this tournament, these last two games we've gone 1-0 down and come back, hopefully the next game we can win in 90 minutes but we'll do anything."
Saka's redemption moment
Let's not lie, when Saka stepped up we did have a moment where we thought about his heartbreaking miss in the Euros final three years ago.
But the mentality to step up and score so emphatically. His club absolutely love him.
Big player for big moments.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 6, 2024
Our Bukayo pic.twitter.com/vnJImbI90B
The genius of it..
Never in doubt. See you in Dortmund @England pic.twitter.com/In4eRlSUKX
— James Whaling (@jjwhaling) July 6, 2024
Some words from Trent
On the England win... "Incredible, these are the goals we set for ourselves Difficult opponent, going behind, team showed a lot of character and belief. We were never going to run away with the game, but whatever it takes, we win - and that's all that matter to us.
On his penalty..."It is what we practice, a lot of practice goes into that moment. When the gaffer tells me I'm taking one my belly doesn't drop. I knew what spot, I just needed to execute it. All five penalties were great and Pickford made a great save."
Jordan's decisive save
Akanji was the only man to miss as Pickford was able to be the hero once again for England in a major tournament!
That winning feeling!
The winning kick
Oh Trent!
Sweet Caroline drops
Let's have a party! What's all this about penalty heartache?! That's a distant memory.
How good were those spot kicks?!
TRENT SCORESSSS! ENGLAND WIN!
We're amazing at penalties!
Semi-finals here we come!!!!
AMDOUNI SCORES
Very cool to be fair.
But it doesn't matter if we score next...
TONEY SCORESSSSS
HE WAS NEVER MISSING!
One kick away...
SHAQIRI SCORES
England 3-2 ahead after three each...
SAKA SCORESSSSS
YESSSSSSS!
SCHAR SCORES
England lead 2-1 after two each
BELLINGHAM SCORESSSS
YESSSSSS!
England lead 2-0
AKANJI MISSES
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
PALMER SCORES
YESSSSSSSSS
England to take first
Palmer stepping up here....