England beat Switzerland 5-3 in shootout to reach Euro 2024 semifinals

Add another chapter to England's long and winding history with penalty shootouts.

Three years after losing the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020 final on penalties, England's players radiated confidence as they beat Switzerland 5-3 in a shootout to reach the Euro 2024 semifinals.

Trent Alexander-Arnold blasted the ball into the top corner for the winner as England made all of their spot kicks to claim the victory following a 1-1 draw in extra time in Düsseldorf on Saturday.

"The team showed a lot of character, a lot of belief, heart and spirit out there," Alexander-Arnold told BBC. "We knew it was going to be tight but whatever it takes, no matter what, we win and that's all that matters."

Benched after England's first two Euro 2024 games, Alexander-Arnold "could have easily thought his tournament was done," England manager Gareth Southgate said. "I kept talking to him. He's going to have moments, there's still a big part to play."

Bukayo Saka, whose penalty kick was saved to decide the shootout in the final at London's Wembley Stadium in 2021, and who was racially abused on social media in the aftermath, also stepped up to score. The 22-year-old had also scored an equalizer earlier to ensure the game went to extra time.

The other shootout scorers were Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham, 22 and 21 respectively, and Ivan Toney, who returned in January from an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules.

England were in the lead in the shootout after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved from Manuel Akanji, who took Switzerland's first penalty kick.

Southgate's own England career was defined by a semifinal shootout miss against Germany when England hosted the 1996 European Championship.

When he took over as manager in 2016, England hadn't won a shootout in 20 years. They have now won three of four shootouts in Southgate's eight years on the touchline, but lost the most important in the continental title match in 2021.

England will play the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday for a spot in the final.

Switzerland, who have never reached the semifinals of a major tournament, exited the Euros on penalties in the quarterfinals for the second time running after falling to Spain in similar fashion three years ago.

"I'm really sad for the players," coach Murat Yakin said.