And Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, and Ivan Toney—all five of England’s takers—all succeeded in hitting the mark.

Saka experienced a moment reminiscent to Stuart Pearce as he banished the memory of his missed opportunity in the previous Euro final, which saw Italy defeat England. 

After Saka successfully countered Breel Embolo’s late opener to force extra time, Southgate, who celebrated his 100th match as manager in style, helped England win their third shoot-out in four attempts. 

England advanced to their third championship semi-final in four years on Wednesday in Dortmund, despite not having performed especially well since the first half of their opening match against Serbia.  

Although England had improved from their disorganised triumph over Slovakia in the round of sixteen, they were still far too lethargic in the second half of regulation time and looked tired by the end of extra time.

Despite switching to a 3-4-2-1 shape, Southgate only made one forced personnel change: Ezra Konsi entered the defence in lieu of Marc Guehi, who was suspended.

Alexander-Arnold and Palmer are not present at right back. 

He is not usually radical.

The attacking advantages of the new system appeared to be negated by playing Saka as a right wing-back and Trippier on the left because there was no true width. England scored all five of their penalties with hugely impressive confidence.Bellingham held his ears to the crowd after scoring his penalty.Saka dispatched his spot kick before also celebrating to the fans.16It was a moment of ecstasy for England as they reached the semis for a second successive EurosCredit: AFPPickford used his traditional tactic of having notes about the opponents’ penalty takers on his water bottle.

Switzerland had stuffed Italy last week and went within minutes of defeating Germany in the group stage – and yet they were also the only team to fail to beat Scotland. 

It was a plodding start. England had a lot of the ball but didn’t do much with it. 

Saka produced an absolutely sensational performance for England.

They lacked express pace, squandered last balls, and wasted set pieces.

Bellingham and Mainoo had brief opportunities to ignite a fire, but the Swiss were unyielding and provided little information.

Within 10 seconds, Bellingham’s corner was won, and England passed it all the way back from Jordan Pickford, capping their entire tumbleweed effort. 

 After Bellingham was body-checked by Fabian Schar and Saka squirmed past Michel Aebischer, the ball was placed low for Kobbie Mainoo, whose shot was saved.

While there were no shots on target from either side in the first half, it was still preferable to the chaotic match against Slovakia. 

 When Breel Embolo did manage to do so for the Swiss, he shot directly at Pickford.

With their disproportionate number of supporters creating the greatest noise, the Swiss were starting to apply pressure, and England were making careless mistakes that were causing them to be pressed back. 

 Manuel Akanji had well chained Kane, who was stumbling around.

The England captain eventually received a booking for fouling the Manchester City player.

Frustration was starting to mount. Murat Yakin, the manager of Switzerland, made two changes, but Southgate, as usual, refused to budge from his starting eleven, even in the face of clear indications that they were creating opportunities. 

 The damage was done fourteen minutes before the deadline because England disregarded the warning indicators that had been there.

surprisingly minimal coercion from Southgate’s team Dan Ndoye was released by Schar down the right, and when Konsa, who had been seeming unsteady for a while, failed to react, Ndoye’s low centre was cleared by Stones, and Embolo stabbed in at the far post.Although it was an easy goal to give up, England had been too docile and unchanging for far too long.

Southgate started working on the barn door when the horse ran off. 

 Luke Shaw, who was now fit for his first appearance in almost four months, Cole Palmer, Eberi Eze, and Trippier, Konsa, and Mainoo were hauled off.

England suddenly started playing like they had rockets stuck up their ass, and in five minutes they were level.

After a sweeping crossfield play, Declan Rice fed Saka, who scored with a signature finish that included feinting, wobbling, cutting inside, and pinging a low shot off the far post.

Kobbie Mainoo was everywhere for the Three Lions

Bellingham had dropped deeper into midfield, Shaw was in the back three and Eze a wing-back. 

The equaliser and the changes gave England the impetus. There was a snap in their passes, a spring in their step, an attacking purpose to their game. 

In injury-time, a cross from Schar sparked panic in the England defence but Embolo couldn’t react. 

Early in extra-time, Rice let rip from 25 yards and Yann Sommer went full-stretch to turn it around the post – his first save of the match.

This was England with the fabled handbrake off and soon Bellingham was testing Sonner again, though his shot was comfortably saved. 

Kane, looking utterly exhausted, was barged into the dugout by Akanji, colliding with Southgate as he tumbled.As the seconds passed before the shoot-out, the England manager took advantage of the situation to substitute Ivan Toney for Kane and Alexander-Arnold for Foden.

Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner struck the England bar as the team finished raggedly, and Pickford denied Zeki Amdouni’s strong drive.