England Beat Switzerland to UEFA Nations League 3rd Place in Penalty Shootout
June 9, 2019
England beat Switzerland on penalties to finish the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament in third place on Sunday after the match ended in a goalless draw. Jordan Pickford saved Josip Drmic's spot-kick in a 6-5 shootout.
The match was largely devoid of chances early, with neither team seemingly motivated to push for a win. England improved as time wore on and hit the woodwork twice in regulation and once more in extra time, while Switzerland barely threatened.
In the shootout, the first 11 players all converted before Pickford saved Drmic's effort.
The Netherlands and hosts Portugal will battle it out for the trophy later on Sunday.
Europe vs. South AmericaâWho Would Win? We Simmed on FIFA17
Inside Transfer Deadline Day: Access All Areas at Sheffield United
FIFA Sim: Bundesliga All-Stars vs. Serie a All-Stars
Meet 'Billy the Wonder Kid': the 7-Year-Old Football Phenomenon
Juventus vs. Real Madrid: Champions League Final Goes Space Invaders
Gianluigi Buffon Is an All-Time Great: Will He Finally Win the Champions League?
Duong Ly Picks Football's Biggest Results: Who Wins the Champions League Final?
Can Real Madrid Unlock Juventus' Defense in UEFA Champions League Final?
FC Copenhagen Fans Throw Beach Toys on Pitch During Final Match of Season
Goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur's Famous Old StadiumâWhite Hart Lane
Blue Is the ColourâB/R Animation Celebrates Chelsea's Title
270417_SS_RONALDORECORD_PLUS_1.mov
Lyngby Goalkeeper Makes Incredible Goalkeeping Blunder
We Asked Fans in Egypt: Who Is Your Champions League Legend?
Here Is What Happened When the Champions League Trophy Visited Egypt
6-Year-Old Prodigy Ariana Dos Santos Has Has Met Her Barcelona Heroes
Jamaican Fans Tell B/R Their UEFA Champions League Memories
Arsene Wenger Carries on Regardless as Arsenal Stars Cause Chaos in Background
N'golo Kante Will Win the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award
Dmytro Hrechyshkin Scores Fine Free-Kick for Vorsklaâbut Did He Mean It?
Manager Gareth Southgate unsurprisingly opted to rotate his squad, with only Pickford, Harry Maguire, Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling keeping their spots in the starting XI from Thursday's semi-final with the Netherlands.
Harry Kane was a surprise starter, and he nearly opened the scoring after three minutes, clipping the crossbar with a chipped effort.
Per sports writer James Olley, the Tottenham Hotspur man made a far better impression against the Swiss than he did in the semi-finals:
Sterling perhaps should have scored after a clever piece of play from the Three Lions, firing his effort right at Yann Sommer, and the City man almost got to a sharp cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Liverpool full-back had a fine first half, and he found Dele Alli with another great cross, only to watch as the Spurs man missed the target.
Alli seemed to realise he should have done better:
Europe vs. South AmericaâWho Would Win? We Simmed on FIFA17
Inside Transfer Deadline Day: Access All Areas at Sheffield United
FIFA Sim: Bundesliga All-Stars vs. Serie a All-Stars
Meet 'Billy the Wonder Kid': the 7-Year-Old Football Phenomenon
Juventus vs. Real Madrid: Champions League Final Goes Space Invaders
Gianluigi Buffon Is an All-Time Great: Will He Finally Win the Champions League?
Duong Ly Picks Football's Biggest Results: Who Wins the Champions League Final?
Can Real Madrid Unlock Juventus' Defense in UEFA Champions League Final?
FC Copenhagen Fans Throw Beach Toys on Pitch During Final Match of Season
Goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur's Famous Old StadiumâWhite Hart Lane
Blue Is the ColourâB/R Animation Celebrates Chelsea's Title
270417_SS_RONALDORECORD_PLUS_1.mov
Lyngby Goalkeeper Makes Incredible Goalkeeping Blunder
We Asked Fans in Egypt: Who Is Your Champions League Legend?
Here Is What Happened When the Champions League Trophy Visited Egypt
6-Year-Old Prodigy Ariana Dos Santos Has Has Met Her Barcelona Heroes
Jamaican Fans Tell B/R Their UEFA Champions League Memories
Arsene Wenger Carries on Regardless as Arsenal Stars Cause Chaos in Background
N'golo Kante Will Win the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award
Dmytro Hrechyshkin Scores Fine Free-Kick for Vorsklaâbut Did He Mean It?
Switzerland didn't offer much in response, as Pickford barely had to make a save in the first half. He also looked more comfortable with the ball at his feet than he did against the Netherlands.
The Swiss were a little more adventurous after the break but nearly gifted England the lead when Fabian Schar made a last-ditch tackle that diverted the ball on to Sommer's post.
On the other side of the pitch, Granit Xhaka put Pickford to work as the match started to heat up. The increased pace also led to some setbacks, however, and Xherdan Shaqiri left the pitch with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Sterling fired a shot high from a promising position with 15 minutes left to play, and with neither team pushing for a winner, extra time seemed inevitable. Callum Wilson had other plans and had the ball in the net after 84 minutes, only for VAR to intervene.
Fans were not happy:
Replays confirmed there was a foul on Manuel Akanji in the buildup, so the decision was correct.Â
In the first period of extra time, the better chances again fell to England. Sterling's header somehow didn't cross the line, and Sommer made a wonderful save to deny Alli.
Southgate introduced Jadon Sancho and Ross Barkley at the start of the second period, but at this point, both teams seemed to have their minds on the shootout. Sterling had one final chance, but his free-kick hit the woodwork.
The first 11 takers all converted their penalties, with Barkley opting for a risky but well-executed dinked shot. Drmic put an end to the perfect streak, however, handing England the win.