Trent Alexander-Arnold Scores To Send England To Euro Semi-Finals
After being benched by Gareth Southgate for most of the tournament, the Scouser in our team kept England’s hopes alive.
Saturday was do or die for England’s time in the 2024 Men’s Euros, as they faced off against dark horse Switzerland in the quarterfinals. It took 75 minutes for Switzerland to score from Breel Embolo’s close range finish inside the six-yard box, and then another five for England to equalize with a low shot from Bukayo Saka, but neither team was able to break the deadlock in normal or extra time.
You know what that means! England has ANOTHER match end in penalties!
Jordan Pickford was able to save Switzerland’s opening effort from Manuel Akanji, and the rest of the England squad didn’t miss a single penalty (including Saka), teeing up Trent Alexander-Arnold for the last chance. Our Scouser sent the shot home and England into the semi-finals.
“Incredible. They’re the goals and the aims that we set for ourselves. [They’re] a difficult opponent. Again, going behind, [but] the team has got a lot of character and a lot of belief and a lot of heart and spirit,” Alexander-Arnold said post-match.
“We dug deep when it mattered most and [we] obviously get the win in the penalty shootout. We knew it was going to be tight. We knew we were never going to run away with the game although that would’ve been nice. Whatever it takes, no matter what, we win and that’s all that matters to us.”
It goes without saying at this point that England are no strangers to penalty shoot outs, especially after the last men’s tournament, and the defender reiterated that they were ready for this moment.
“It’s what we practice. A lot of graft goes into that moment. They’re moments that I enjoy. When the gaffer says I’m taking one, the belly doesn’t drop,” Alexander-Arnold explained.
“I enjoy it, I practice it. I knew what spot and I knew I just needed to execute it and I went and did that. All five penalties from us were great, Pickers [Jordan Pickford] with an amazing save to start the shootout gives you that confidence.
“We practice for these. You see every game so far has gone to extra-time in the quarter-finals. They’re tight margins, it was the finest of margins today, but we’ve been able to win.”
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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