England 1-1 Switzerland (UEFA European Championship Quarter Final) *5-3 pens aet
It took a 96th minute overhead kick by Jude Bellingham and the celebratory scenes of beating Slovakia in extra time following an underwhelming tournament so far. The joy in the crowd I was seeing before me on TV had me chomping at the bit. I had been long issued a ticket for the Quarter Finals by the FA, the only concern England had to get there, and I didn’t know where the game would be played.
So as soon as it was confirmed, I backed out of a pre-arranged holiday in Italy and back packed with my mate Joe, from East Midlands Airport to Knock, Ireland West, on the morning of the game.
From there, we took another Ryanair flight to Cologne, picked up by a taxi we head for the town of Dusseldorf where our hotel awaited, the Radisson Blu not far from the stadium, a quick change and on with our journey, a ten euro uber which dropped us pretty close to the ground.
The Venue
It’s 5pm local time as we head for the Merkur Spiel-Arena on foot, plenty of England fans sombre, but confident as they all head to the ground.
The home of Fortuna Dusseldorf appears box like, standing tall over some industrial units, it looks like a fancy car park from the outside, as we enter through the south stand and walk around the concourse to where the England fans are perched.
A couple of pints and some banter with fellow supporters, we make our seats by the corner flag but over twenty rows up, a cracking view inside a cracking arena with an atmosphere to kill.
The Game
In fairness, the atmosphere outshone the match, the first half played between two organised but un-enthralling sides, neither England or Switzerland registering an attempt of note, I was sent for two more pints on the 35th minute and didn’t, I was told miss much.
The second half was hardly better, but by this time we were four pints in. Calls for more ale ahead of Switzerland attacking and when a cross fell kindly to Embolo, it all looked to be going horribly wrong, the Swiss with the lead on 78, a sea of red in celebration as three quarters of the stadium seemed stunned.
That shock turned to horror as England coach Gareth Southgate made three changes with one of the numbers, no10 shown up on the electric board. That ten, of Bellingham, followed by boos, it appeared the player didn’t want to go off, it appeared nobody wanted Bellingham off, in the end he stayed on, but it was another player to England’s rescue, as Bukayo Saka cut in, let fly, and smashed home low to un-sight Swiss goalkeeper Sommer.
The celebrations began as England fans hugged eachother in the stands, before the inevitable extra time and 30 minutes more pain.
The Score
In the end, neither side could be separated, and penalties would be the way, as England stepped up, and scored, through Palmer, it was up to Pickford to deny Akanji, and suddenly England had control.
The boos and jeers echoed every Swiss shot, the nerves of hope turned into fist pumps of relief as the England players kept scoring, Bellingham, Saka, Toney with the eye, until Trent Alexander-Arnold had the chance to settle it, he smashed home with Switzerland needing to score two, England advance and the celebrations would again begin.
The Stars
Bukayo Saka was the official player of the match and worked tirelessly before scoring an all important leveller, and more importantly striking redemption with a smile, after scoring his penalty kick, he missed against Italy in the final of Euro 2020, but what he’s done since in an England (and Arsenal) shirt, is completely grow in strength and stature, to become one of England’s most important players.
Whilst Saka was good, Kobe Mainoo stood out as a teenager who’s taken international football like a duck to water, at ease in possession whilst seeing things out of it, that others don’t. Ezri Konsa was superb as a stand in centre half as England changed system to a solid 3-4-2-1.
For Switzerland, they were good, and this team assembled by Murat Yakin is one of the best Swiss teams I have seen, Ndoye often teasing down the right, Embolo a handful up top, Granit Xhaka since his move to Leverkusen has became one of the best midfielders in the world.
The Verdict
England can play better, but we all know they like to do it the hard way. Switzerland unlucky, but they’ll leave the tournament heads held high, whilst I’ll be left celebrating, with Joe, and a good 30,000 other England fans in Dusseldorf.
The Teams
England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ezri Konsa (Cole Palmer 78), Kieran Trippier (Eberechi Eze 78), Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo (Luke Shaw 78), Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden (Trent Alexander-Arnold 115), Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane (Ivan Toney 109).
Switzerland: Yann Sommer, Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schar, Ricardo Rodriguez, Dan Ndoye (Dennis Zakaria 98), Remo Freuler (Zeki Amdouni 118), Granit Xhaka, Michel Aebischer (Vincent Sierro 118), Fabian Rieder (Steven Zuber 63), Ruben Vargas (Silvan Widmer 64), Breel Embolo (Xherdan Shaqiri 109).
6:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 6th July 2024, Merker Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf (att 46,907).
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