First half was relatively uneventful with both teams creating chances but failing to find the back of the net. In contrast, second half proved quite different as both sides scored goals to break open proceedings.
Saka plays a square ball to Foden on the right wing, who finds space inside both Aebischer and Zuber before cutting inside to fire a cross into the far corner, showcasing the skillful play observed in the England national football team vs Switzerland national football team stats.
England National Football Team
England have found newfound balance with their game since signing Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold; these players both contributed goals during this match. Gareth Southgate added even more options with these signings and both were on target against Colombia.
England made just one change from their 2-0 victory over Slovakia in the previous round, keeping Joe Hart in goal as their only change. Switzerland have also kept their same lineup. Yans Sommer will serve as goalkeeper, while Schar, Akanji and Rodriguez form an unchanged defence alongside Ndoye Aebischer on either flank, while Xhaka and Freuler play midfield positions before Embolo Vargas attack up front.
Both teams enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening half but failed to create many chances; neither side managed a shot on goal in that period.
After the break, England emerged more dangerous. Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham played well as central No 10s behind Harry Kane, and started building attacks.
But the visitors could not make that breakthrough and had to settle for two second-half penalties; Hart saved one but wasn’t able to stop Bukayo Saka taking another penalty shot.
Saka tried dragging the ball into the box with his feet, appearing set to score but his attempt hit the post and went out for a throw-in instead.
Now it’s penalty time and the Three Lions will look to add to their impressive shootout record. At stake here is reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024; any draw would be considered satisfactory by both sides but England must deliver another victory now in order to keep up their relentless pressing and clinical finishing tactics.
Switzerland National Football Team
Switzerland remains the only nation with an undefeated head-to-head record against England, yet still maintains an 0-4-1 head-to-head record against them. But this shouldn’t deter England; they possess an effective squad that could pose problems to England – led by Yann Sommer’s ability to read games from the back and win high balls midfield and make swift counter attacks; attacking midfielders like Xherdan Shaqiri and Breel Embolo are strong ball carriers who also boast goal scoring talents such as Roman Fehlauer and Michel Aebischer among other quality goal scorers!
Switzerland entered this tournament as one of the underdogs, yet they shocked Italy in round 16 before drawing England for a tough quarter-final encounter. Switzerland will look to build on this momentum and make further advances into competition; their star midfielder Granit Xhaka excels at reading games while his creativity and passing accuracy is crucial in their success.
First half play was relatively uneventful for both sides, with neither team creating clear-cut opportunities. Things began to heat up in the 75th minute when Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead with an expert tap-in from Dan Ndoye’s cross. England quickly responded through Bukayo Saka with an exquisite shot that hit bottom corner within five minutes and equalised within five more.
In extra time, England forwards began taking control of the game. Kane and Sterling combined to set up an opportunity for Defoe but his shot went wide; Foden played an excellent through ball for Walker but Aebischer blocked his effort with physical force.
The final was a close contest with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. As such, penalties were needed, with England eventually winning 5-3 after Jordan Pickford saved from Manuel Akanji and saving from Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham Saka and Ivan Toney scoring goals for England while Zeki Amdouni missed his opportunity for Switzerland – this marked England’s second straight penalty shootout victory at a major tournament.
Head-to-Head Record
The Three Lions have an illustrious history against Switzerland, boasting an overwhelming head-to-head advantage with England winning 19 out of 27 meetings while drawing five times. But it is important not to make too hasty an assessment when considering head-to-head records – many factors can have an effect on how a match ends.
Gareth Southgate and England may not have played their best football yet at Euro 2024, yet they remain unbeaten and advanced to the quarter-finals without loss. England will face an inspired Switzerland side that dethroned defending champion Italy in round 3, as Murat Yakin’s squad have displayed greater consistency than Southgate’s side at this tournament.
At first, both teams were less than thrilling, as England failed to test Switzerland goalkeeper Yans Sommer. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo forced a blocked shot and Granit Xhaka’s deft touch gave him the opportunity to have another go from distance.
After halftime, Switzerland took control of the game – Breel Embolo opened their account while Luke Shaw equalised for England; ultimately it came down to penalties – England eventually emerging victorious 5-3 with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham Saka and Ivan Toney all scoring their attempts home successfully.
The result means the Three Lions are one win away from qualifying for a major tournament semi-final for the first time since 1996 when they reached the World Cup final. England will hope this performance can provide them with some momentum ahead of their last-eight clash against Sweden on Saturday; whether or not this occurs remains to be seen, but signs are encouraging! With their destiny seemingly sealed against them at this point in time, it’s imperative they avoid another disaster such as their opening game loss against Slovakia; otherwise things will likely spiral downward quickly!
Prediction
Gareth Southgate has helped his new-look England side adapt well to Dusseldorf, and the style of play introduced by Gareth Southgate may well reap dividends against Switzerland. We anticipate an intense game that could produce its first goal within ten minutes of normal time ending.
Gareth Southgate has relied on Harry Kane as England captain at Euro 2024 and he should continue leading their attack against Switzerland on Sunday. Other dangerous players for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions side include Jadon Sancho, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka wingers.
The Three Lions have made progress over the last 43 years and hope of reaching their first semifinal may rest with Manuel Akanji, a Manchester City defender assigned to mark England star Harry Kane and who may need to cover much ground as part of this task. England have created plenty of chances in previous two matches but were unable to convert any into goals.
Switzerland will look to use their physicality to limit England’s forwards’ movements, with key figures like Fabian Schar, Silvan Widmer, Michel Aebischer, Granit Xhaka and Dan Ndoye playing an instrumental role in winning possession.
This could be a cautious affair as both teams look to conserve energy for the semifinals. Kieran Trippier and Phil Foden would be among the five England players that would miss out on qualifying for the semifinals if they are charged, while Swiss coach Murat Yakin may need to reshuffle his side after beating Italy in their last group stage match. Granit Xhaka will play, though his Arsenal star may be forced into a defensive role alongside Fabian Schar or Silvan Widmer. His absence may allow Luca Buri to move into more advanced roles. Should the match end in a draw, penalty shootout will ensue; Switzerland have only ever managed to beat England once during 27 encounters and they remain winless in European Championship knockout competition games.
Also Read: Netherlands national football team vs england national football team lineups
