JORDAN PICKFORD was England’s spot-kick hero as Gareth Southgate’s side advanced to the European Championship semi-finals after a dramatic shootout. 

The Everton custodian saved brilliantly from Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji’s first penalty for Switzerland.

England advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Switzerland on penalties.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning spot kick, sending England into the final four.

Jordan Pickford was the hero, save from Manuel Akanji in the penalty shootout.

Breel Embolo gave Switzerland the lead from close range.

It arrived with only 15 minutes of the 90 remaining.

Saka scored England’s equaliser in the 80th minute.

The Arsenal attacker was England’s finest player in the quarterfinals.

Arsenal teammate Aaron Ramsdale lifted Saka high following his goal.

The heated contest proceeded into extra time after a hard-fought 90 minutes.

Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all successful in their attempts. 

Saka had a Stuart Pearce moment as he exorcised the ghost of his mistake in the previous Euros final, which saw England beaten by Italy.

Saka cancelled out Breel Embolo’s late opening to force extra time, and he then contributed to England’s third shootout victory in four attempts under Gareth Southgate, who celebrated his 100th match as manager in style.  

Despite not playing particularly well since the first half of their opening against Serbia, England has advanced to their third semi-final in four tournaments, which will be held in Dortmund on Wednesday.  

England had improved from their chaotic last-16 triumph against Slovakia, but they remained much too passive in the second half of normal time and looked drained by the end of extra time. 

Southgate switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation, but there was only one required player change: Ezra Konsi moved into defence in place of the suspended Marc Guehi. 

No Palmer or Alexander-Arnold at right back. He is rarely radical. 

Playing Saka as a right wing-back and Trippier on the left appeared to undermine the attacking benefits of the new system, since there was no genuine width. 

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England scored all five of their penalties with tremendous confidence.

Bellingham held his ear to the fans after scoring his penalty.

Saka executed his spot kick before also celebrating with the fans.

It was a moment of excitement for England when they reached the semi-finals for the second consecutive Euros.

Switzerland had dominated Italy last week and came within minutes of upsetting Germany in the group round, but they were also the only team to fail to beat Scotland. 

It was a slow start. England had a lot of possession but didn’t do anything with it. 

dThey lost set-piece opportunities, missed last balls, and lacked express pace. 

Mainoo and Bellingham had their moments, threatening to spark something, but the Swiss remained obstinate, offering little information.

Bellingham won a corner, which England passed all the way back to Jordan Pickford in ten seconds, effectively summarising their entire tumbleweed performance. 

Fabian Schar was booked for body-checking Bellingham, and Saka wriggled past Michel Aebischer to cross low for Kobbie Mainoo, whose shot was blocked.

It was better than the shambles against Slovakia, but there was little to get fans excited, as neither team had any shots on goal in the first half. 

Breel Embolo finally did it for the Swiss, but his shot was straight at Pickford. 

The Swiss were beginning to apply pressure, with their outnumbered supporters creating the majority of the noise, while England was making unforced errors and being pinned back. 

Kane was stumbling around, bound tightly by Manuel Akanji.

Eventually, the England captain was booked for a foul on the Manchester City player. 

The frustration was growing. Switzerland manager Murat Yakin made two changes, but Southgate, as usual, remained with his starting eleven, despite any evident signs of them creating chances. 

The warning signs were there, but England ignored them, and 14 minutes later, the harm had been done. 

With surprisingly little pressure from Southgate’s men. Schar released Dan Ndoye down the right, Konsa, who had been looking wobbly for some time, failed to react to Ndoye’s low centre, Stones failed to clear, and Embolo slotted in at the far post. 

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It was a soft goal to surrender, but England had been lethargic and immobile for far too long.  

After the horse bolted, Southgate set to work repairing the barn door. 

Trippier, Konsa, and Mainoo were replaced by Eberi Eze, Cole Palmer, and Luke Shaw, who was finally fit to play after more than four months out. 

England now played like if rockets had been shoved into their jacksies, and they were level after five minutes. 

Declan Rice fed Saka, who finished with his characteristic sway, feint, cut inside, and low shot off the far post. 

Bellingham had moved deeper into the midfield, Shaw was in the back three, and Eze was a wingback. 

The equaliser and the changes gave England a boost. There was a snap in their passes, a spring in their step, and an offensive intent to their game. 

In injury time, a cross from Schar caused fear in the England defence, but Embolo was unable to react. 

Early in extra time, Rice fired from 25 yards, and Yann Sommer went full stretch to turn it around the post, his first save of the game.

This was England without the legendary handbrake, and Bellingham soon tested Sonner again, though his shot was easily saved. 

Akanji barged Kane, who appeared weary, into the dugout, colliding with Southgate as he fell.

The England manager took advantage of the opportunity to replace Kane with Ivan Toney, then substituted Alexander-Arnold for Foden as the clock crept down to the shootout. 

England finished raggedly, with a Xherdan Shaqiri corner colliding with the England bar before Pickford pushed Zeki Amdouni’s thunderous drive away.