England entered the Euro 2024 semi-finals with a penalty shootout win over Switzerland, as Jordan Pickford's save from Manuel Akanji's spot-kick proved decisive after a 1-1 draw.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney also kept their composure, before Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning penalty and Pickford thwarted Switzerland's first penalty taker Akanji to secure a thrilling 5-3 shootout win.
England, who will now face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi-finals, were in danger of being eliminated from the tournament in normal time when Switzerland's Breel Embolo outpaced Kyle Walker and headed home Dan Ndoye's pass from close range in the 75th minute.
But England's most dangerous player Saka, playing in the unfamiliar role of right wing-back, found an equaliser shortly afterwards when he curled a superb header from outside the box.
Saka's goal came from England's first shot and Gareth Southgate's side continued to struggle in extra time but survived some heartbreaking moments when Xherdan Shaqiri hit the ball straight onto the goalpost from a corner and Zeki Amadoni saved the shot.
However, none of that mattered in the end as England held their composure in the shootout and put their misery of losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy to advance to the semi-finals, which take place in Dortmund on Wednesday at 8pm.
See England's penalty joy in pictures
Trent Alexander-Arnold converted the winning spot kick
England players start celebrating after the winning penalty
Pickford then celebrated with Alexander-Arnold
Gareth Southgate congratulates Jude Bellingham
Analysis: Saka showed his courage and quality
England couldn't celebrate making the last four without Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal forward, England's most dangerous player throughout the competition, scored a superb equaliser during a player-of-the-match performance in Dusseldorf.
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring the equaliser for England against Switzerland
However, what was even more impressive was his will to take England's penalty in the shootout, only three years after the miss that proved so costly in the Euro 2020 final. Not only that, he also demonstrated his ability by converting it.
