Euro 2024

JORDAN PICKFORD’S heroics have seen England finally put to bed their penalty shootout nightmare. The goalkeeper was again a saviour as Gareth Southgate’s side beat Switzerland 5-3 on spot-kicks to book their spot in the Euros semi-final.Jordan Pickford was the hero for England againCredit: GettyHe brilliantly denied Manuel Akanji’s effort to help the Three Lions throughCredit: AlamyHis cheat sheet water bottle has been key to England’s penalty improvementsCredit: gettyPickford has a strong shootout record – saving from Jorginho in the 2020 Euros finalCredit: GettyPickford also made a crucial save versus Colombia in 2018Credit: EPAPickford, with the help of his water bottle cheat sheet that said which direction the Swiss players were likely to shoot in, saved Manuel Akanji’s effort as all five England players found the back of the net.Before the Everton stopper pulled on the No 1 shirt, the Three Lions had lost seven of their eight shootouts.But with Pickford between the sticks, England have won three of four.The only defeat came in the Euro 2020 final to Italy – although he saved Andrea Belotti and Jorginho’s shots.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLColombia star Carlos Bacca was denied in the 2018 World Cup.And Swiss duo Josip Drmic in the 2019 Nations League and Akanji on Saturday have also not been able to convert against Pickford.In total, he has saved five of 20 shootout penalties he has faced.That is more than double all other England keepers managed between them from 1990 to 2012.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThey saved just two combined from a possible 29, with their save percentage at a woeful 6.5 per cent.And in major tournaments, Pickford’s record is up at 26.3 per cent.Quick-thinking England hero Jordan Pickford was forced to change penalty shootout routine at last minute vs SwitzerlandHis pre-penalty antics help get in the minds of his opponent and he was seen pulling faces at Switzerland players in Dusseldorf.And the mental side of the shootout is something England have been working on.The improvements in penalties are six years in the making – since a penalty project team was launched by the FA. The game insights lead Chris Markham reached out to Geir Jordet – a Norwegian sports psychologist who is a leading expert on spot kicks, dubbed ‘The Penalty Professor’.Markham had read Jordet’s book, Pressure: Lessons from the psychology of the penalty shootout, and wanted to pick his brains.Among the tips they received was to slow down and control momentum. Pickford cleverly dragged things out before Akanji’s shot.Jordet told SunSport: “What Pickford showed particularly leading up to the Akanji penalty was a very smart move.”This was all part of his plan. He had him wait for 14 seconds. “This is one of the most consistent findings in my data on goalkeeper involvement.”If goalkeepers are able to stall or delay so that penalty takers have to stand in that position and wait eight or more seconds then these players score on just 44 per cent of their kicks.”England penalty takers were also encouraged to develop a routine before their shots to control nerves, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink helping with penalty preparation. The famous cheat sheet water bottle also helps simplify things for Pickford – but Gary Lineker is worried opponents are now wise to his tricks.READ MORE SUN STORIESSpeaking on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: “One player is going to look at that bottle.”If you are listening do it differently, do it on a different piece of paper or do it on the post.”England’s penalty shootout recordTHE dreaded penalty shootout.England’s nemesis at no fewer than EIGHT major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.But the perfect shootout win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 gives some reason for optimism…1990 World Cup semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 04/07/1990 – LOST 4-3Euro 1996 quarter-final vs SPAIN, 22/06/1996 – WON 4-2Euro 1996 semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 26/06/1996 – LOST 6-5Friendly vs BELGIUM, 29/05/1998 – LOST 4-31998 World Cup last 16 vs ARGENTINA, 30/06/1998 – LOST 4-3Euro 2004 quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 24/06/2004 – LOST 6-52006 World Cup quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 01/07/2006 – LOST 3-1Euro 2012 quarter-final vs ITALY, 24/06/2012 – LOST 4-22018 World Cup last 16 vs COLOMBIA, 03/07/2018 – WON 4-3Nations League third-place play-off vs SWITZERLAND, 09/06/2019 – WON 6-5Euro 2020 final vs ITALY, 11/07/2021 – LOST 3-2Euro 2024 last-16 vs SWITZERLAND, 06/07/24 – WON 5-3OVERALL: Played 12 Won 4, Lost 8 More

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the chances of England winning Euro 2024 – and it is not great reading.Gareth Southgate’s men beat Switzerland on penalties on Saturday after another brave comeback.Gareth Southgate’s England are preparing to face Netherlands in Wednesday’s semi-finalCredit: GettyThe Three Lions will face Netherlands in the semi-final of Euro 2024 on Wednesday after another comeback win.Breel Embolo thought he had won it for Switzerland when he broke the deadlock with just 15 minutes left but Bukayo Saka’s excellent effort levelled to send the game to extra-time.Neither team was able to find a breakthrough in the additional thirty – meaning that it went to a shootout.Jordan Pickford, thanks to his research on his bottle, saved Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick before Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, and Ivan Toney all converted, leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold to step up to win it.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Netherlands also came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday night to seal their place in the last-four.Samet Akaydin deservedly put Turkey ahead in the first half but they were pegged back when Stefan de Vrij headed home 20 minutes from time.But there was another twist just moments later as an own goal from Mert Muldur, who bundled the ball into the net under pressure from Cody Gakpo, sealed it.However, before they and England go head-to-head Spain meet France tomorrow first in the other semi.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Spanish defeated hosts Germany 2-1 courtesy of a last-ditch winner in extra-time from Mikel Merino on Friday.They are heavily-fancied to go all the way by many – but first they have to overcome France.Trent Alexander-Arnold puts England into Euro 2024 semi finals with brilliant final penalty in shootout vs SwitzerlandThe World Cup finalists needed penalties to get past Portugal three days ago to book their spot in the semis.Now ahead of all the big-match action, a Supercomputer has crunched all of the numbers and stats generated by each team so far to determine the likely percentage of them going all the way.The research was conducted by Gracenote Predictor and it makes grim reading for Southgate and his team.They have worked out that Spain have the best – with 34 per cent – probability of lifting the trophy.France are behind them with a tally of 25 per cent, which is just one more than the Netherlands.I know we needed penalties… but England showed vs Switzerland why they can WIN Euro 2024, says Jack WilshereIT 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.That means that the Gracenote Predictor has determined that England are the outsiders with just a 17 per cent chance of becoming European champions.And it did not take fans of the Three Lions long to react once that info was shared on social media.“England last,” wrote one before adding: “You must be joking!”Another said: “Reality is it’s much closer to 25% each. Games that have gone before don’t mean anything.”READ MORE SUN STORIESA third commented: “7% less than Netherlands is wild.”While a fourth joked: “Gareth Southgate’s master plan… Make England the worst team all tournament to then go and win it all!!!”England player ratings: Saka the saviour for Three Lions but subbed Kane stuggles in penalties thriller vs SwitzerlandBUKAYO SAKA showed huge courage as he dug England out of a hole and through on penalties against Switzerland, writes Tom Barclay.The Three Lions looked to be going out when Breel Embolo had put Swiss ahead on 75 minutes.But Arsenal star Saka dragged England back into five minutes later with a stunning effort off the post.To penalties it went – just like it did between these two sides five years ago in the Nations League.And just like back then, Jordan Pickford made a save – repelling the Swiss’s first effort from Manuel Akanji.England were perfect from then on, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellignam, Saka, Ivan Toney and finally Trent Alexander-Arnold sending the Three Lions into the semi-final.Here’s how the players rated…Jordan Pickford: 7Had his heart in his mouth when Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner deep into extra-time hit the post and bar, but then pulled off a smart stop to take it to penalties.Saved Manuel Akanji’s first spot-kick by diving low to his left.Kyle Walker: 6Spent most of the game on the right side of a three which meant he could not get forward. Embolo got in front of him for Switzerland’s opener. Won the toss so the penalties were taken in front of the England fans.John Stones: 6Crisper passing in the first half, much better than his sloppy Slovakia display, but his deflection on Dan Ndoye’s cross diverted it to Embolo.Ezri Konsa: 6Was decent in the first half of his maiden start at a major tournament but, like the rest of the team, went into his shell after the break.Kieran Trippier: 6Had been expected to play right wing-back but was once again on the left.Solid defensively but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, offered little going forward on his unnatural side.Declan Rice: 7Anticipated, and subsequently, won a number of 50-50s at the base of England’s midfield.It was his decoy run that opened up the space for Saka to find the corner, before his 25-yard wonderstrike was denied by a flying Yann Sommer save in extra-time.Kobbie Mainoo: 6Some decent drives forward from midfield. Looked as if he would fire home an opener just before the break afterBukayo Saka’s nice cutback, but was denied by Granit Xhaka’s excellent block.Bukayo Saka: 8 and STAR MANDid not play at left wing-back as expected, but was England’s most dangerous attacking player throughout – and none more so when he came to the rescue with his 80th-minute leveller which flew in off the post.Showed huge courage in the shoot-out as he stroked home his penalty beautifully, three years on from missing in the last Euros final.Jude Bellingham: 6Produced a few graceful dribbles which showcased his quality in the first half but pretty quiet.Looked knackered but showed big cojones with his low penalty.Phil Foden: 6Admitted before the game that his central role would suit him better and it seemed to in the first 20 minutes, but faded after that.Harry Kane: 4This system just does not suit him. He needs runners, but does not look like he is going to get them.Just could not get into the game and was subbed out of it in extra-time, seconds after he was sent crashing into his manager on the touchline.SUBSCole Palmer (for Konsa, 78): 7One of three players to come on in reaction to Switzerland’s opener – why did it take so long, Gareth? Dispatched England’s first spot-kick with aplomb.Luke Shaw (for Trippier, 78): 6First minutes of football since February, slotting in on the left side of back three as Southgate went for broke.Eberechi Eze (for Mainoo, 78): 6Carved out a nice bit of space for himself in the dying moments but fired wide.Ivan Toney (For Kane, 109): 7It was no surprise to see him come with the prospect of penalties on the horizon – what was more of a shock was that it was for spot-kick maestro Kane. Was knocked over in the box right at the end of extra-time, but nothing was given. Confident penalty.Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Foden, 115): 7Thrown on late into extra-time. Belted home his spot-kick to win it.Gareth Southgate: 4The adjusted back three system worked to a certain extent, but still the approach looked to be to keep it tight and rely on a moment of magic.Saka provided that for the leveller, but given the talent at his disposal, it seemed very limited.Took an age to make a change – prompted only by Switzerland going ahead. But got his subs right when it came to the penalty shoot-out.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More