Jan Hoeksema
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England and Switzerland were unable to make a difference in the 90 minutes on Saturday night. In a game that was not particularly exciting for a long time and became somewhat loose in the final stages, there was a 1-1 score on the scoreboard after normal time, meaning extra time and possibly penalties would have to decide the match. Breel Embolo and Bukayo Saka scored.
Gareth Southgate was forced to make one change to England's starting line-up. Marc Guehi picked up a yellow card in the eighth final against Slovakia and was suspended. Ezri Konsa was the logical replacement. It started further The Three Lions For the first time this tournament they played with a 3-4-2-1 system, having previously played with four defenders. Saka, who English media reported as playing as a left-back, was positioned on the right.
In Switzerland, there was not much to do about the starting lineup. National coach Murat Yakin sent the same eleven names onto the pitch as against Italy (2-0). This meant starting places for former PSV player Ricardo Rodriguez and Embolo, among others.
The first half was a good match for the English Championship so far. The play was not brilliant from either side and chances were few and far between, with not a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
Ruben Vargas, among others, created a small danger, but the Swiss midfielder saw Dan N'Doye unable to reach his cross. England's most dangerous moment came after a beautiful dribble from Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal forward played the ball to Kobe Mainoo, but his shot was quickly blocked.
The match was a bit tense at the start of the second half. The first shot on target came in the 51st minute and it was a great chance straight away. Embolo was played into the opposition penalty area, created space for himself by running away and trying. But his effort was too weak and went past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Shortly afterwards, Embolo had a second chance. A cross from the left flew towards him but Konsa made life so difficult for the striker that Embolo could not get a serious shot on. Pickford caught it easily.
Fifteen minutes from time, the blockade was broken and it was Switzerland who took the lead. It wasn't the first time that Ndoye had come in from the right. He got to the end line, where he sent a low, sharp cross to Embolo. On the way to the striker, John Stones got a touch, but he couldn't prevent Embolo from reaching the far post, where he scored: 0-1.
Switzerland's goal??! 75' Breel Embolo England 0-1 Switzerland Watch the match live via: https://t.co/XotUctCEHs#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/zEZ28rjLob
– NOS Football (@NOSfootball) July 6, 2024
After conceding the goals, England had to force something, and to do that Southgate made three substitutions, including Luke Shaw, who had come on for the opening minutes of the tournament. The intervention seemed to have an effect, as England joined in less than two minutes later.
Saka was played in by Declan Rice on the right. The winger cut inside and had space to attack with his powerful left foot. His low effort headed towards the far bottom corner, where the ball ended up across the post and into the net: 1-1.
England's goal??! 80' Bukayo Saka England 1-1 Switzerland Watch the match live on: https://t.co/XotUctCEHs#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/LjacD4MVsh
– NOS Football (@NOSfootball) July 6, 2024
It seems that the goal he scored is what the English needed, because even after the equaliser The Three Lions Dangerous. This was partly caused by Harry Kane, who played an invisible game and also failed to make his mark in the final stage. After ninety minutes the score was level on the scoreboard and the two teams went to extra time.
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