Loved-up England stars including Saka and Kane celebrate with Wags after dramatic penalty shootout win over Switzerland
ENGLAND stars were spotted celebrating their dramatic penalty shootout win over Switzerland with their wives and girlfriends in the stands.
The Three Lions made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland led to a stunning 5-3 victory on penalties.
I know we needed penalties... but England showed vs Switzerland why they can WIN Euro 2024, says Jack Wilshere
IT TOOK penalties to put us through but, before the drama, England showed us why they have the ingredients to do something special, writes Jack Wilshere.
It was a win by the narrowest of margins but this was overall our best performance of Euro 2024.
If we can build on the progress we made, especially in the first half, we could WIN the tournament.
It was not a complete display. There were nervy moments and waiting so long to make changes could have cost us.
But we saw what a good team England can be if they do the right things and put players in the right positions.
The first half was England’s best since the first 45 against Serbia. Maybe even better.
One of the keys to that was our press and the effect it had on Granit Xhaka.
For the first time in four games we were pressing high, winning the ball back in better areas and putting Switzerland on the back foot.
In previous matches, our forwards were pressing but the gaps between our lines were too big.
That was leaving huge gaps for Declan Rice and whoever was partnering him to cover.
This time there was better structure and organisation.
There seemed to be more of a plan for when to drop into a block and when to jump out to press.
Now England have the opportunity to build momentum and show why they can win this tournament.
Read all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euro 2024 articles.
The national team have a lot to thank Bukayo Saka‘s rocket for as it saved the national team’s blushes just 10 minutes before full-time and cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener.
Then Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all on target.
Gareth Southgate‘s men made history as they scored all of their five spot-kicks to seal their first ever clean sweep in the finals of a major international competition.
Jordan Pickford also denied Manchester City ace Manuel Akanji’s shot.
The England stars then went to celebrate their triumph with their loved ones, who were watching from the stands of the Dusseldorf Arena.
Saka was spotted hugging his girlfriend while captain Harry Kane met his wife and children.
Kane had to be taken off during extra-time after a duel with Akanji led to him crashing in his own dugout and onto Southgate who tried to keep him on his feet.
But the star striker seemed fine as he enjoyed some quality time with his family and he also claimed he will be fit for the semi-final against the Netherlands as he only suffered a cramp.
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Jarrod Bowen also linked up with girlfriend Dani Dyer, who is the daughter of famous actor Danny Dyer.
Conor Gallagher was also seen having a tender moment with his partner.
And Kyle Walker as well as Ollie Watkins were all smiles as they found their plus ones among the crowd.
England will face the Netherlands for a place in the final on Wednesday at the Signal Iduna Park.
Southgate changed his system... now he has to change the players if England are going to win Euros, writes Charlie Wyett
GARETH SOUTHGATE changed the system… but he now needs to start switching his players, writes Charlie Wyett.
And that not only means for his starting XI for the semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday, but also during the match itself.
Not for the first time, Southgate nearly paid the price for his bloody-minded refusal to react with substitutions and you have to wonder if he is ever going to learn.
Probably not.
At least the England manager reverted to a three-man defence which served him well at the World Cup in 2018 and, on occasions, during Euro 2020.
Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa generally did well at the back with Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka the wing-backs.
But England still had a complete lack of balance as they had Trippier, a right-footer on the left, and Saka, a left-footer on the right.
It really made no sense whatsoever. Southgate will have his reasons but it was still a case of putting a square peg into a round hole.
Although Saka was England’s most dangerous player for long periods, not for the first time, playing Trippier on the left simply did not work.
And this is why Luke Shaw, if fit, simply HAS to start the next game.
England are through by the skin of their teeth and maybe their name is written on the trophy.
Southgate is actually England’s second most successful manager behind Alf Ramsey although today, it still does not feel like it.
In his eight years as manager his England team have won eight tournament knockout games, compared to six in half a century before him.
This is the most sustained period of success in the history of the men’s England football team.
Ultimately, though, Southgate will only be celebrated as a true success if England – despite being rubbish for most of this tournament – come home with the trophy.
Read all of Charlie Wyett’s Euro 2024 articles.