Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the decisive penalty as England defeated Switzerland in a shootout to advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The Liverpool defender came off the bench during extra time to contribute to the Three Lions’ progression into the competition’s final four, while his Reds teammate Joe Gomez remained an unused substitute.
In a closely contested match in Dusseldorf, Switzerland took the lead in the 75th minute through Breel Embolo’s close-range finish inside the six-yard box.
England responded just five minutes later when Bukayo Saka struck a well-placed low shot from outside the penalty area to level the score and force the game into extra time.
After neither team could break the deadlock in the additional 30 minutes, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout.
It was Alexander-Arnold who calmly converted his spot-kick from 12 yards, sealing a 5-3 victory in the shootout for England.
Alexander-Arnold told BBC Sport post-match: “Incredible. They’re the goals and the aims that we set for ourselves.
“[They’re] a difficult opponent.
“Again, going behind, [but] the team has got a lot of character and a lot of belief and a lot of heart and spirit.
“We dug deep when it mattered most and [we] obviously get the win in the penalty shootout.
“We knew it was going to be tight.
“We knew we were never going to run away with the game although that would’ve been nice.
“Whatever it takes, no matter what, we win and that’s all that matters to us.”
On his winning penalty, he added: “It’s what we practice. A lot of graft goes into that moment.
“They’re moments that I enjoy. When the gaffer says I’m taking one, the belly doesn’t drop.
“I enjoy it, I practice it.
“I knew what spot and I knew I just needed to execute it and I went and did that.
“All five penalties from us were great, Pickers [Jordan Pickford] with an amazing save to start the shootout gives you that confidence.
“We practice for these. You see every game so far has gone to extra-time in the quarter-finals.
“They’re tight margins, it was the finest of margins today, but we’ve been able to win.”
