Neville hails England penalty takers amid ‘added pressure’ | OneFootball

Gary Neville has hailed England’s penalty takers against Switzerland amid the ‘added pressure’ on the five scorers in the shootout.

England progressed to the semi-finals at Euro 2024 after beating the Swiss on penalties, with all five players converting from the spot for the Three Lions. Cole Palmer, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all came off the bench to score, while Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka also netted their spot-kicks.

Jordan Pickford’s save from Manuel Akanji saw England win a penalty shootout at a major tournament for just the third time.

Neville was part of England teams that were eliminated from four major tournaments on penalties and praised the composure of England’s five scorers, insisting each had their own sub-stories of ‘added pressure’ in the shootout.

“I used to think when I played getting knocked out on penalties was unlucky! This first picture is post-2006 penalty shoot out. The third time as a player I’d been knocked out in semis and quarter finals for England. Yesterday England went through to a semi-final on penalties,” Neville wrote on Instagram.

“Saka recovering from a horrendous experience of being racially abused post-Euro 2020. Palmer and Toney in their first tournament stepping up. Jude Bellingham at 21 years of age and still a baby. Trent Alexander Arnold having had a rough 2 weeks taking that final penalty

“All these lads not only under the natural pressure of actually taking one but under the added pressures above.

“Whilst we have carried our luck in this tournament so far winning on pens is not lucky. Having the right players in the squad, on the pitch, with the right information and mentally strong are decisions and qualities that this group have.

“Well done to Gareth and the players but particularly to those lads who took the spot kicks so brilliantly and with such composure.”

Read – Five things we learned from the Euro 2024 quarter-finals

See more – Euro 2024: Five players who impressed in the quarter-finals

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