Martin Rogers
FOX Sports Insider
DÜSSELDORF — Bukayo Saka came to England’s rescue on Saturday, as another fightback saved the Three Lions from elimination for the second time in a week — temporarily at least.
Saka, the Arsenal star who has been one of Gareth Southgate’s few bright spots in a frustrating and often confounding campaign, struck in the 80th minute with a fine equalizer that sent this quarterfinal into extra time.
It borrowed from the same playbook as the team’s dramatic round of 16 win against Slovakia last Sunday, though Saka’s effort came far earlier than Jude Bellingham’s injury-time stunner on that occasion.
Five minutes earlier, Switzerland had scored with its first serious chance of a tense and tactical encounter. A solid cross from the right was met by the outstretched foot of Breel Embolo, who shrugged off his marker and deflected the ball past Jordan Pickford.
That prompted Southgate into making a trio of changes, replacing Ezri Konsa, Kieran Trippier and Kobbie Mainoo with Cole Palmer, Luke Shaw and Ezerechi Eze, hoping to inject some much needed energy.
It did. Palmer added some quick-footed spice, Shaw was physical despite not having played for five months, and in the end it was Declan Rice who again found Saka on the right.
There was no attempted cross this time, as he cut inside and curled a left-foot beauty inside the post of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
While overall, England looked a little more direct with its new “back three” gameplan, there was still not enough in terms of setting up meaningful chances.
Once again, however, there was a reprieve, and a deep sigh of relief – as extra-time beckoned, with a semifinal place against the winner of the Netherlands v. Turkey on the line.
Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.
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