Gareth Southgate’s men had an impressive performance, dominating the game for 120 minutes in northern Portugal. They had numerous opportunities to score, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Raheem Sterling hitting the woodwork, and Callum Wilson’s late goal being ruled out by VAR.
Yann Sommer made several crucial saves to keep England at bay. England had a flawless performance in the penalty shootout, scoring all six of their spot-kicks, while Josip Drmic was denied by Pickford.
This victory marked England’s second shootout win in 12 months, following their triumph over Colombia in the last 16 of the previous year’s World Cup, breaking their longstanding disappointment in shootouts. Harry Kane, reinstated as captain, almost made an immediate impact with a clever chip that was touched onto the crossbar by Sommer.
England enjoyed better chances throughout the game, with Sterling missing a clear opportunity and Trent Alexander-Arnold showcasing his skills with inviting crosses. On the other hand, Switzerland struggled to pose a real threat, with Granit Xhaka’s powerful shot being turned behind by Pickford as their best chance.
Their hopes faded further after Xherdan Shaqiri limped off the field due to injury. In extra time, England continued their dominance but failed to score despite creating multiple chances.
Sommer’s exceptional performance denied them until the penalty shootout, where they emerged victorious after a commendable display from Maguire, Barkley, Sancho, Sterling, Pickford, and Dier. Overall, England’s strong performance in the shootout secured their victory, highlighting their progress under Southgate’s leadership.