The Beautiful Game

ENGLAND stars celebrated 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.Bukayo Saka scored the equaliser and celebrated with his partner Tolami BensonConor Gallagher had a kiss with his partner Aine May Kennedy in the standsCredit: PAHarry Kane celebrated with his wife Katie and daughter after England’s win over SwitzerlandKyle Walker met with his wife Annie Kilner after England won on penaltiesEngland star Ollie Watkins was all smiles after full-time with partner Ellie AndersonJarrod Bowen hung out with girlfriend Dani Dyer after full-timeI 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.Bukayo Saka’s rocket with ten minutes left cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener – as the game went to the dreaded spot kicks.But it could not have gone any better for England as they won only their third penalty shootout ever, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold were ALL on target.And Jordan Pickford’s save from Manuel Akanji, with a little help from his magic water bottle, was enough to send Gareth Southgate’s side into a semi-final with Holland next Wednesday.As beers flew in the air in pubs and bars across the England, Three Lions stars took the chance to celebrate with their loved ones in the stands of the Dusseldorf Arena.Read More on FootballHero Saka shared a hug with his partner Tolami Benson.While captain Harry Kane, who had to be taken off during extra-time after crashing in his own dugout, enjoyed a moment with wife Katie and their daughter.Kyle Walker, who was switched to the right side of a back three for the clash, was spotted chatting to wife Annie Kilner.While unused substitute Jarrod Bowen also linked up with his Love Island star girlfriend Dani Dyer, daughter of famous actor Danny Dyer.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSConor Gallagher, another star who didn’t get onto the pitch, was also seen having a tender moment with his partner Aine May Kennedy.And Ollie Watkins chilled with his girlfriend Ellie Anderson.Tom Barclay England Player RatingsSaka, 22, coolly fired past Yann Sommer in the shootout, burying the demons of his heartbreaking miss in the final loss to Italy at Euro 2020.All five of England’s takers converted to make it a perfect set of pens, with England winning 5-3 – only their third-ever shootout win.Asked about exorcising his demons, Saka admitted: “It’s something I embrace. It was special, very special, how we fought back. The last time we went to penalties we all know what happened.“You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not. I’m a guy who is going to put myself in that position. I believed in myself.“To come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger.“We know there are two more games until we can change our lives and make some history that’s never been made before. We’re really focused on that.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Hopefully in the next game we can win in 90 minutes. But if this is what it takes we will do anything.”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 WyettGARETH 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. More