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Only eight nations remain at Euro 2024 and, somehow, England are still one of them.
A date with Switzerland awaits Gareth Southgate’s side now after struggling through the group stage and mounting the very latest of late escapes in the last-16 against Slovakia, with an injury-time equaliser sending the tie to extra-time, where a goal from Harry Kane sealed their progress.
Jude Bellingham scored the spectacular 96th-minute strike to keep England in the game – and the tourmament – but ensuing celebrations left some offended. “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,” he suggested – but that didn’t stop Uefa opening an investigation over potential indecent conduct, which could yet see him face a ban.
There remains much for Southgate to solve though, including a defensive riddle with Kieran Trippier a doubt and Marc Guehi suspended – and the rest of the team not playing well either.
Follow all the latest news updates and reaction ahead of England’s last-eight fixture below.
Phil Foden reveals how England can solve attacking woes at Euro 2024
The playmaker admitted he has been frustrated they haven’t clicked but said that isn’t due to manager Gareth Southgate‘s tactics – rather the players must take responsibility. Foden claims they have felt inhibited due to the nature of matches and defensive opposition approaches but believes the squad need to be more proactive.
While the 24-year-old admitted that he wants to play centrally for England, he denied there is any issue in his own connection with Jude Bellingham, and believes that the performance level is growing.
Jack Rathborn4 July 2024 11:10
England v Switzerland TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online
Euro 2024 has reached the quarter-final stage and England are still very much involved – despite having been seconds from elimination last time out and having underwhelmed throughout the tourmanent so far.
A Jude Bellingham overhead kick saved the Three Lions against Slovakia, before Harry Kane’s header in extra time won them the tie, after finishing top in the group stage despite only managing a single victory from their three games.
Improvement is expected and will be necessary, but for that to happen changes seem are no doubt needed once more in the team – and there’s still the matter of a potentially pending suspension for Bellingham to solve, after he made gestures outside the realms of “decent conduct” and was investigated by Uefa.
Jack Rathborn4 July 2024 10:58
Gareth Southgate plans major tactical switch for Euro 2024 quarter-final v Switzerland
England have been working on a back three in training ahead of the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland, with Kyle Walker moved to the right of centre-half and Bukayo Saka potentially playing as left-back. Gareth Southgate is now actively considering changing, in what could yet be a decisive mid-tournament change.
The manager had been fretting about how his initial system hadn’t been working in four laboured displays so far, but a number of factors have forced him to finally work on something different in the build-up to the Switerland game.
The primary reason was a required change to the defence anyway, with Marc Guehi suspended after a second booking of the tournament in the 2-1 win over Slovakia.
Jack Rathborn4 July 2024 10:55
