EURO 2024: Three Lions roar into semis

DUESSELDORF, July 6

Trent Alexander-Arnold converted the winning spot kick in a penalty shootout to send England into the semifinals of Euro 2024 after Manuel Akanji missed for Switzerland today.

Alexander-Arnold fired into the top left corner to send pre-tournament favourites England through, winning the shootout 5-3 after the match was level at 1-1 after extra time.

Breel Embolo had put Switzerland ahead after 75 minutes when he poked home from close range after John Stones failed to clear, and Bukayo Saka levelled for the Three Lions five minutes later with a brilliant strike in off the far post.

French revolution

Hamburg: France’s heartache in penalty shootouts is over. So is Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-ever European Championship. In a clash of the superstars, it was Kylian Mbappe — and not Ronaldo, his idol — advancing to a semifinal against Spain as France beat Portugal 5-3 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw on Friday.

Portugal substitute Joao Felix hit a post with the only miss in the shootout and Theo Hernandez showed no sign of pressure by converting the clinching kick into the top corner.

It was a record sixth and final European Championship for the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout and ended up consoling fellow veteran Pepe afterward as the 41-year-old defender cried on his captain’s shoulder.

“We need to go through this moment of our loss, which is very painful,” Pepe said.

“Everything is too raw,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, when asked if that was Ronaldo’s last game for his country. — Agencies