England have suffered a history of penalty defeats at major tournaments but overcame that to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024 with a win over Switzerland.
The Three Lions converted all five of their penalties in Düsseldorf, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford continuing his excellent penalty record by saving a penalty from Manuel Akanji.
It was a stark contrast to the heartbreak of three years ago when Gareth Southgate’s England side lost the Euro 2020 final on home soil on penalties.
As a player, Southgate knew more than anyone the humiliation that came with missing a penalty during the Euro 96 semi-final defeat to Germany.
But the England manager’s attention to detail has helped turn around the team’s record, winning three of the four penalty shootouts under his management.
England won a World Cup penalty shootout against Colombia for the first time in their history in 2018 on their way to the semi-finals.
Saturday’s quarter-final win was their second in six attempts at the Euros, having also beaten Switzerland in the third-place play-off at the 2019 Nations League final.
“I think we have a good process, we’ve played four times, won three times,” Southgate said.
“Obviously we were totally to blame for the loss and will always be so because it depends on the result.
“We’ve refined the process a bit and we now have more players taking penalties regularly and more players who have participated in penalty shootouts than we did back then.”
– Points to prove –
England’s composure from the penalty spot was all the more impressive after Harry Kane was substituted in extra time due to fatigue.
The average age of the five test-takers was just over 23, and all were eager to prove a point.
Bukayo Saka’s brilliant goal with 10 minutes to go gave England the victory, redeeming himself for missing a crucial penalty in the shootout against Italy three years ago.
“You can fail once, but you can choose to put yourself in that position again, and I’m a man who’s willing to put myself in that position,” Saka said.
“I believed in myself and was very happy when I saw the ball hit the net.”
Ivan Toney came on in place of Kane and proved his case for inclusion in the team as a penalty specialist.
Cole Palmer is yet to play in Germany and Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out after missing out on a chance to play in midfield.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham was cleared to play just a day before the match against Switzerland after being investigated by UEFA for scoring a groin-grabbing goal to save England from humiliating defeat to Slovakia in the last 16.
Southgate has long rejected the cliché that penalties are like a lottery.
He worked as a TV pundit and suggested players needed to work with psychologists after England’s exit from Euro 2012.
In his eight years as manager, he has hired experts to advise him on the finer points, such as breathing techniques and the best time for players to take a penalty kick so as not to rush the process.
The efforts have paid off, with the team winning three of four games compared to one of seven before he took over.
“That’s on me but it’s the players who get the result on nights like tonight,” Southgate added.
“All I want to do is take the pressure on them. They were really calm. The whole process was really calm.”
Southgate also had special praise for his goalkeeper.
Pickford’s energetic, sometimes manic demeanor does not belie an icy temperament.
But he is the specialist under the most intense pressure.
Everton’s goalkeeper has saved at least one penalty in every shootout he has played in.
Pickford also saved two of Italy’s five penalties in the defeat at Wembley three years ago.
His preparations were captured on camera with a water bottle bearing instructions on which all of Switzerland’s penalty takers should dive.
“Goalkeepers always make at least one save so we have another chance,” Southgate added.
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