Quarterfinals and not out: England through on penalties!

Edge of your seat entertainment it certainly wasn’t, but after 120 minutes of, let’s call it, tactical battling, and then a high-pressure penalty shootout, England have emerged victorious and move on to the semifinals of Euro 2024. This is the first time since 1968 that England have reached a Euro semifinal that will not be held on home soil.

Cole Palmer, setting the tone, then Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold went a perfect five-for-five in the shootout while Jordan Pickford saved the first one he faced, from Manuel Akanji … after nearly getting beaten directly from a corner late in extra-time. That would’ve been rather amusing.

Palmer came on only in the 78th minute, part of a triple-change that were Gareth Southgate’s first changes of the game, reacting to Switzerland taking the lead through Breel Embolo. A moment of quality from Saka got England level just minutes later, but the Three Lions didn’t really push for a winner, and instead it were Switzerland who had a couple decent chances in extra-time.

Conor Gallagher did not get on the pitch.

England will face the winners of Turkey and Netherlands in the semifinals.

All three quarterfinals so far have gone into extra time, and two of them have been decided on penalties. Not exactly free-flowing football for anyone at this point, which is unfortunate. And rather boring.

Is proper football back yet?