England 1-1 Switzerland (5-3 pens): Player ratings as Three Lions fly through to semi-final on penalties

England booked their place in the semi-final of Euro 2024 by seeing off Switzerland on penalties after an entertaining 1-1 draw.

Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead with 15 minutes remaining, but Bukayo Saka's excellent equaliser sent the game to extra time and ultimately penalties, where the Three Lions went five-for-five to advance to the next round.

How the game unfolded

Lining up in their new three-back formation, England dominated possession in the opening stages as right wing-back Saka enjoyed space out wide. A whipped cross for Kieran Trippier was slightly too strong, before a late offside flag against the Arsenal star ended a dangerous moment from the Three Lions.

Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo both saw long-range strikes blocked, while a number of cut-backs failed to reach their targets as England continued to push for the opener their bright start perhaps deserved.

Switzerland had their own bright moments and were happy to fire crosses into the box, but some resolute England defending prevented any real threats on Jordan Pickford's goal.

On the stroke of half-time, Mainoo's strike from close range drew an excellent block from Granit Xhaka. For all of the intrigue of the first half, neither side actually managed a shot on target, although England fans were undoubtedly happy with what they had seen in the first 45.

Embolo had the game's first shot on target five minutes after the restart with a tame strike, before Switzerland started to enjoy their strongest period of the game. Some smart moves earned space down the right wing, forcing Ezri Konsa into a number of top interceptions.

The Swiss pressure ultimately proved too strong for England as Embolo bundled home a deflected cross from Dan Ndoye, setting up a dramatic final 15 minutes.

Five minutes later, however, England were back on level terms.

Saka cut inside from the right and curled a fierce, low effort into Yann Sommer's goal to settle the tensions in the England camp.

Ebere Eze fizzed wide as the game approached the end of regular time, but there would be no separating the two teams inside 90 minutes.

Sommer had to be active to deny an excellent long-range strike from Rice shortly after the restart, before the Swiss stopper managed to claim an effort from Jude Bellingham.

Switzerland ended extra time on top. Xherdan Shaqiri hit the post directly from a corner, before Zeki Amdouni stung the gloves of Pickford with the final act before the penalty shoot-out.

Cole Palmer slotted home the first spot kick and England immediately had the advantage as Pickford denied Manuel Akanji.

Bellingham converted his effort, as did Fabian Schar, Saka, Shaqiri, Ivan Toney and Amdouni, but the game was decided by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who crashed into the top corner to send England through to the semi-final.

England player ratings (3-4-2-1)

GK: Jordan Pickford - 7/10 - A few too many aimless kicks forwards but was hardly needed at the back. Made the difference with his penalty save.

CB: Kyle Walker - 5/10 - Mopped things up with his pace but didn't offer a whole lot going forwards. Caught out at the back for Embolo's opener.

CB: John Stones - 6/10 - Stopped Switzerland's dynamic forwards and was comfortable stepping out from the back to thread passes forwards. Unfortunate with the deflection for Embolo's goal.

CB: Ezri Konsa - 7/10 - Stood tall and repelled everything Switzerland threw at him. A really impressive performance.

RM: Bukayo Saka - 8/10 - Playing a more attacking role than this position might suggest, Saka produced his best performance of the tournament so far. He had the beating of his defender every time and definitely deserved his goal.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo - 7/10 - So much composure on the ball. Drove forwards with ease and even flashed some defensive awareness to help out at the back.

CM: Declan Rice - 6/10 - Helped recycle possession well without ever really managing anything spectacular.

LM: Kieran Trippier - 5/10 - Who could have guessed that a right-back would look slightly uncomfortable at left wing-back? Trippier didn't exactly get a whole lot wrong but he always looked like the weak link in this team.

AM: Jude Bellingham - 6/10 - Really active in the first half but found space a lot harder to come by in the second half.

AM: Phil Foden - 6/10 - The first half saw Foden enjoying his football but things again became too passive after the break.

ST: Harry Kane - 4/10 - Seemed to be on a different wavelength to his teammates, many of whom were often questioning why he wasn't there to collect their cut-backs.

Substitutes

SUB: Ebere Eze (78' for Mainoo) - 6/10

SUB: Luke Shaw (78' for Trippier) - 6/10

SUB: Cole Palmer (78' for Konsa) - 6/10

SUB: Ivan Toney (108' for Kane) - N/A

SUB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (114' for Foden) - N/A

Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Dean Henderson (GK), Joe Gomez, Lewis Dunk, Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins

Manager

Gareth Southgate - 6/10 - The formation change was absolutely the right move but England were almost punished for failing to adjust to the changing of the game.

Switzerland player ratings (3-4-2-1)

GK: Yann Sommer - 6/10 - Stayed alert without ever really having much to do. Usually rose to the challenge.

CB: Fabian Schar - 6/10 - Solid at the back while treading a disciplinary tightrope after picking up a first-half yellow card.

CB: Manuel Akanji - 7/10 - Stayed glued to Kane to ensure the England striker didn't get much joy. Unfortunate to miss a key penalty.

CB: Ricardo Rodriguez - 6/10 - Had to be alert to help the right against Saka.

RM: Fabian Rieder - 6/10 - Played a handful of nice passes through England's backline. Won his battle against Trippier.

CM: Remo Freuler - 5/10 - Survived a major handball scare in a performance which saw him chasing Mainoo's shadow.

CM: Granit Xhaka - 7/10 - Switzerland's dangerman in midfield. A huge defensive block and a number of powerful runs forward.

LM: Michel Aebischer - 5/10 - Couldn't contain Saka defensively and wasn't given the space to get involved going forwards.

AM: Ruben Vargas - 6/10 - Some decent runs into the box which sparked a handful of nervy moments, but England always managed to repel his threat.

AM: Dan Ndoye - 7/10 - A massive threat down the right. Seemed to be on a relentless charge at Trippier and deservedly ended up with an assist.

ST: Breel Embolo - 7/10 - After a tricky first half, Embolo began to create real problems after the break and flashed his poacher's instinct

Substitutes

SUB: Silvan Widmer (64' for Vargas) - 7/10

SUB: Steven Zuber (64' for Rieder) - 7/10

SUB: Denis Zakaria (98' for Ndoye) - 5/10

SUB: Xherdan Shaqiri (108' for Embolo) - N/A

SUB: Vincent Sierro (117' for Aebischer) - N/A

SUB: Zeki Amdouni (117' for Freuler) - N/A

Subs not used: Gregor Kobel (GK), Yvon Mvogo (GK), Cedric Zesiger, Leonidas Stergiou, Nico Elvedi, Ardon Jashari, Kwadwo Duah, Noah Okafor, Renato Steffen

Manager

Murat Yakin - 6/10 - Made the tactical changes needed to turn the tide of this game in the second half. Unfortunate to come out on the losing side.

Player of the match - Bukayo Saka (England)

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