The Three Lions scored all five penalties to book a place in the semi-final against the Netherlands
England avoided the usual heartbreak with penalties by emerging victorious with a shootout victory over Switzerland – and appeared to use an interesting tactic to help secure victory.
The Three Lions won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra-time in Dusseldorf, after Bukayo Saka had cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener.
Gareth Southgate’s side will take on the Netherlands on Wednesday evening in the Euro 2024 semi-final, after the Dutch came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 in their quarter-final.
The victors of that clash will take on either France or Spain in the competition’s final as England seek to win the trophy for the first time.
So often with penalty shootouts and England, it does not end well.
So many times England have been dumped out of international tournaments on spot kicks, such as Euro 96, Euro 2012, Euro 2020, and the World Cups in 1998 and 2006, to name but a few.
But last night was a success, with all five Three Lions players netting from the spot and overcoming the pressure that a penalty shootout inevitably brings.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored to secure a 5-3 victory, with Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji having his spot kick saved by Jordan Pickford.
Getty)
And when it comes to analysing how England succeeded in their shootout, fans on social media have a theory for a contributing factor as it how it came about.
Obviously, all players hit the target, which is the first thing, but it appears to have been as much about to the approach to taking penalties which seems to have been a key factor with what each player did.
Many of them, rather than beginning their run-up straight away to take their penalties, pauses for a certain amount of time to shoot after the referee’s whistle.
In fact, it is a tactic which Mikel Arteta has employed successfully at Arsenal, which essentially states there is a higher percentage chance of a penalty being converted when the taking of it is delayed.
And taking to Twitter, some fans noted the tactics which the England players put into practice.
One wrote: “For those wondering, Saka took ~9 seconds to respond to the referees whistle when he took his penalty.”
Another posted: “Something he was trained on under Mikel Arteta.”
A third said: “Noticed all of our players apart from Palmer waited a relative amount of time before taking their penalty.”
A fourth added: “Thought about this, has learned his “lesson””
A fifth commented: “My brother and I both said that Felix was going to miss his yesterday. Just had that feeling as we watched him step up. Then he waited maybe a second after the whistle blew to take his kick. Alls I’m saying.”
So if England are confronted with a penalty shootout once again against the Dutch, they know a tactic which works.
Shock new name emerges as leading contender to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager after Euro 2024 (an)
Gareth Southgate’s replacement may have been decided.
The 2024 European Championships may be Gareth Southgate’s final tournament as England manager, and the FA may have already picked his replacement.
The knockout stages of Euro 2024 are set to get underway this weekend as 16 of the best teams on the continent will face off to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
After Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia, England finished on top of Group C with a total of five points.
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With the final matches of the group stage still to be played, England will have to wait until Wednesday evening to discover who they will face on Sunday in the round of 16.
But, despite securing his side’s place in the knockouts, Gareth Southgate has received significant backlash from England fans, with some suggesting that he should be sacked before this weekend’s fixture.
And recent reports suggest that, should Southgate depart as England manager, his replacement will be likely be Lee Carsley.
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According to HITC, the current England Under-21 coach is favourite to succeed Southgate, who himself came from the U21 coaching role, with the FA favouring an idea of succession rather than appointing someone from outside the current system.
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Carsley has been with the FA for nearly a decade and led the Young Lions to glory last summer as England defeated Spain 1-0 in the European Under-21 Championship final.
The 50-year-old is well thought of across Europe and has already turned down several jobs in international management, including from the Republic of Ireland.
Lee Carsley led the England U21s to victory in the 2023 European Under-21 Championship, beating Spain in the final 1-0. (Image: Getty)
Ahead of the tournament, reports suggested that the FA were satisfied with Southgate’s performances as manager and were set to offer him a new contract to lead England for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
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But, the 53-year-old has suggested that, should he fail to end England’s 58 year wait for a trophy this summer, he will step down as manager of the Three Lions.
Speaking to German newspaper BILD, Southgate said: “If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore. So maybe it is the last chance.
“I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament – that’s the nature of international football. I’ve been here almost eight years now and we’ve come close.
“You can’t constantly put yourself in front of the public and say, ‘A little more please’ as at some point people lose faith. If we want to be a great team and I want to be a top coach, you must deliver in big moments.”
Fans name the player who should be dropped for England’s game against Switzerland at Euro 2024 (an)
Fans want a change to the starting XI ahead of England’s quarter-final clash against Switzerland.
Fans never want to see a player in an England shirt ever again following their dramatic victory over Slovakia at Euro 2024.
England secured their spot in the next round of the tournament following their thrilling 2-1 victory in Gelsenkirchen.
Ivan Schranz opened the scoring in the 25th minute and his strike seemed destined to be enough for Slovakia to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Jude Bellingham had other ideas as he produced a moment of magic deep, deep into injury time to send the last-16 clash into extra-time as fans spotted what he said during his celebration.
Harry Kane then put England ahead just one minute into the restart.
The Three Lions resume their campaign next Saturday when they face Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
And ahead of the showdown for a spot in the semi-finals, England fans don’t want to see Kieran Trippier in the starting XI.
Supporters on social media turned on Trippier as they made their feelings clear on social media.
Kieran Trippier in action for England against Slovakia. Image: Getty
People have had enough of the Newcastle United defender and never want to see him play an international match ever again following his performance against Slovakia.
One X user slammed: “Trippier should never play for England again.”
A second exclaimed: “Trippier should never play for England again the guy is shite.”
A third added: “Never want to see Walker & Trippier play for England again.”
A fourth said: :Trippier stitching Guehi up leading to a yellow card in 3 minutes. Fantastic. It’s a mystery how he still plays for England let alone starts at a tournament.”
Another commented: “Pathetic how Trippier made the tournament never mind starting every one. Been horrific for ages.”
Trippier has started all four of England’s game at Euro 2024.
But fans hope Gareth Southgate drops him, with the likes of Liverpool’s Joe Gomez or Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa at his disposal.
