Saturday 6th July 2024 - UEFA European Championship - 3rd Quarter-Final
England 1 (Saka 80) Switzerland 1 (Embolo 75) AET - England win 5-3 on pens
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England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to BBC One: "I thought the players were brilliant, it is the best we have played. To come from behind and shown character and resilience we did... it isn't just about playing well.
"It was so brave from Bukayo, he is one of our best and we were never in question he would take one. But we all knew what he went through.
"Huge performance, huge result and we are still in it. We had to be tactically spot on. We are in a third semi-final and it says a lot about the whole group. I thought we had good control."
England manager Gareth Southgate to Uefa, on winning the shootout: "We have done a lot of work on it. We've won three out of four shootouts now.
"In the end the players have to do it and deliver. For players to come into the game and do what they did, for someone like Bukayo having been what he's been through to go through that pressure [is great]."
On Bukayo Saka: "He's a dream to work with, he's a fabulous boy, such a good professional, so much fun to be around. Does an amazing job with and without the ball.
"They've all had to go in there and they're young players in extreme pressure situations but we felt with the players we had on the pitch they were the best to take the penalties."
England manager Gareth Southgate to Uefa, on how far England can go: "That's the challenge now. We played well against a very good team. You have to be spot-on defensively.
"I thought our pressure was good, we used the ball far better than we have done all tournament.
"There are signs of growth. Tournaments aren't just about playing well, it's all the other attributes of a good team."
England manager Gareth Southgate, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am so proud of the players. I thought we played well. We had to defend extremely well as a team. We caused them problems with the way we used the ball. We had a big threat with Bukayo down the right for the whole game.
"We were happy with the performance and then you go behind and you have to show other characteristics. The players showed their resilience, desire and character and forced their way back into the game. Extra-time could have gone either way and excellent composure to score all the penalties."
More from England manager Gareth Southgate speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Bukayo Saka's clinical penalty: "We have total trust in him. His all-round performance was phenomenal for the team. To show the fortitude to convert the penalty as he did, I love them all but I had to give him an extra big hug. I know myself these experience shape you. He has come back stronger, still resilient and loved. Tonight his tournament ignited a little bit."
On the other penalty-takers: "There's Ivan, Cole, Jude, Trent who could have felt his tournament is done but we know he is an exceptional penalty-taker with good nerve. They all showed up under pressure."
On his emotions at full-time: "I took this job to try and improve English football, to give us nights like this. I can't deny then that when things get personal, it does hurt. We continue to give people fantastic memories. We will keep enjoying this journey."
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/7/6/e0766297-313d-4070-8e95-6190469d56af.jpgEngland's player of the match Bukayo Saka, speaking to BBC One: "I am going to put it up there, special. How we fought back and to go to penalties. Last time we took at penalty shootout at the Euros we know what happened. I believed. I felt like we dominated the whole game and the chance would come and I took it - I am proud of myself for that."
On missing a penalty in the 2020 Euros final: "I have faith in God. To comeback from something like that is really difficult, today I took the chance."
On the character to win: "I think it shows how much we want to win this tournament. Hopefully, next game we can win in 90-minutes but if this is what it takes – we will do anything!"
More from Player of the match Bukayo Saka: “Obviously for myself, I believe we have some of the best takers in the Premier League and the world, if it did come to penalties we would be confident - we showed that today.
“For me, it is something I embrace - you can fail once and you have a choice if you are going to put yourself in that position again, I believed in myself and when the ball hit the net I was a very happy man
“I am not going to be focused on the past, that is done, I can only focus on now. I know there were a lot of nervous people watching, my family included, but I kept my cool.
“There are two more games, we can change our lives and make history - we are going to watch the game and see who we are facing.”
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/594/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/7/6/82edc9ac-0d66-4688-930b-40c49852b2ab.jpgEngland's skipper Harry Kane, speaking to BBC One: "Another tough game and first of all great resilience from the lads to turn it up again. To get the goal, a fantastic finish from Bukayo Saka. Penalties are penalties, but I felt prepared - I was on the side, but I felt comfortable in the lads.
"Five out of five and a save from Picks [Jordan Pickford]!
"We trust in whoever is on the pitch and the difference this year compared to past years is we have proven penalty takers – we have a lot more experience and we showed it out there."
More from England captain Harry Kane, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, about Gareth Southgate: "I have spoken before and there is a lot of talk that comes with being England manager. Even today switching the formation to something we have played before and we felt comfortable doing that. One hundred games is some achievement and it will be 101 on Wednesday and hopefully we can make it 102 come the end of next week."
On his substitution in extra-time: "I'm good. I had double cramp in my calf. Penalties, it is like for like because Ivan [Toney] is incredible. I will be fine."
England captain Harry Kane,speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:"That's tournament football for you. You have to find a way. When you look at past champions in competitions, they have to go through penalty shootouts. It comes down to moments. For Saka to step up and score that goal was special for him. I was weirdly calm during penalties. We have a lot more players that take them for their club. I know they are comfortable and know Pickford normally saves one.
"I think penalty shootouts are the highest pressure you will feel as a professional footballer. But for him [Sak] to step up like he did after the tough time he had been through [in 2020]. I am really proud of him and proud of everyone. There is one week left. We will see how far we can go."
Finally from Harry Kane, speaking to BBC One, on Bukayo Saka: "He has been eager to help the team and to play the way he did for 120 minutes. Really special and I couldn't be prouder of him and all the boys. We have to come down and get ready for a game in a few days."
On possibly being injured: "I am fine and I had a bit of cramp, the boss made a quick decision."
