England can now look forward to a showdown on Wednesday against the Netherlands, who after both battled back from 1-0 down to edge past stubborn opposition in Germany.

Jordan Pickford was the shoot-out hero as England kept their Euro 2024 dreams alive by beating Switzerland on penalties to reach the semi-finals, as their opponents, the Netherlands, struck twice in quick succession as they came from behind to book their spot with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Turkey. Three years on from being denied the continental crown on spot-kicks, the 3-Lions had to fight their demons from 12 yards to continue their quest to go one better after Bukayo Saka cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener to take the quarter-final to extra-time and onto penalties after it ended 1-1.

The England star was the hero after converting to bury the ghosts of his Euro 2020 final miss. But it was Pickford who was the star as he saved Manuel Akanji’s penalty, with Trent Alexander-Arnold wrapping up a 5-3 triumph to spark bedlam in Dusseldorf and seal a semi-final spot.

Despite being shifted into an unfamiliar role as right wing-back, Saka (pic) was England’s best player and his moment of individual brilliance, arrowing in from distance, rescued Southgate’s side. It got better for the Arsenal forward, who three years on from the decisive missed spot-kick in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, confidently dispatched his penalty in the shootout.

He converted from 12 yards after Jordan Pickford had denied Manuel Akanji, before Trent Alexander-Arnold sent England into the last four at Dusseldorf Arena. Saka was understandably delighted to bounce back on penalties after his heartbreak against Italy at Wembley Stadium at Euro 2020.

“I have faith in God,” he said afterwards. “To come back from something like that was really difficult.

“But I used it to make me stronger and I took the chance now so I’m happy.” For the Netherlands, Samet Akaydin gave Turkey a 35th-minute lead in a tense quarter-final encounter in Berlin, but the former champions rallied after the break.

Stefan De Vrij headed the equaliser on 70 minutes and the turnaround was completed six minutes later when Mert Muldur turned into his own net under pressure from Cody Gakpo. Turkey piled forward in search of a late equaliser, but Bart Verbruggen produced a brilliant reaction save to deny Kerem Akturkoglu in a nervous finale.

The two victors now face each other on Wednesday, in Dortmund, for their place in the final.