<p>England outlasted <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/switzerland-national-team-tv-schedule/">Switzerland</a> in a penalty shootout on Saturday to advance in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-european-championship-tv-schedule/">Euro 2024</a> and reach the semifinals. </p>



<p>Much of the pregame talk of the matchup surrounded England manager Gareth Southgate’s proposed lineup. </p>



<p>The coach eventually opted for three center backs, rather than a more traditional back four with two central defenders. The decision was fueled by Marc Guehi’s absence due to suspension. Guehi missed the match on Saturday after picking up two yellow cards at the tournament.</p>



<p>Switzerland manager Murat Yakin also generally goes with a back three as well. In fact, the Swiss starting XI on Saturday was the same lineup that essentially dominated <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/italy-national-team-tv-schedule/">Italy</a> last weekend. Southgate’s choice to change formation would also better match his opponents in the matchup.</p>



<p>Many assumed typical winger Bukayo Saka would be utilized by Southgate as a left wing back. Nevertheless, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> star featured on the right hand side in front of center back for the day Kyle Walker. Kieran Trippier, on the other hand, featured as a wing back on the left side of the pitch.</p>



<h2>Neither team managed shot on target in first half</h2>



<p>Outside of the lineups, the actual match started pretty much as expected. The two teams essentially shared the possession and traded tame efforts at goal in the opening stages of the first half. The tactical battle was on from the start. Both sides were seemingly satisfied with a compact clash, particularly in the middle of the pitch.</p>



<p>England did begin to turn the screw a bit as the opening period progressed. The Three Lions racked up 55% possession during this timeframe and regularly opted to feed Saka out on the right side of the pitch. The versatile star led all players in the first half with four dribbles. A majority of these successes came up against Michel Aebischer. </p>



<p>Nevertheless, England could not manage to create much of a real threat to Yann Sommer in the Swiss goal. In fact, neither side even recorded a shot on target during the entire first half. It certainly appeared as if the two managers were happy with a more defensive outlook.</p>



<h2>Saka saves England after Switzerland scores opening goal</h2>



<p>While England showed signs of encouragement in the first half, Switzerland seemed to settle a bit in the second period. Striker Breel Embolo finally recorded the game’s first shot on target with a decent effort in the 51st minute. The ball, however, went straight to Jordan Pickford in England’s goal. </p>



<p>Embolo then found himself in a perfect place to send a header towards the net just six minutes later. Nevertheless, England center back Ezri Konza snuffed out the dangerous play with some top defending.</p>



<p>Despite the missed opportunities, the third time was a charm for the Swiss striker. Embolo netted the opening goal of the game in the 75th minute after a continued push forward from the group. Dan Ndoye initiated the scoring chance with a low cross in front of the face of England’s goal. English defender John Stones stretched out a leg in an attempt to block the pass, but failed. Instead, the ball eventually landed to Embolo and the star would not miss from just a few feet away.</p>



<p>England, however, immediately fought back through Saka. The young star leveled the scoreline just five minutes later with an arrowing strike from distance. Saka picked up possession out on the flank, cut back in, and struck a shot from just outside of the box. The shot somehow missed all of the Swiss defenders, hit the inside of the far post, and into Sommer’s net. It was England first shot on target in the game.</p>



<h2>Pickford makes only save in the penalty shootout as England reach Euro semifinals</h2>



<p>With the game level after 90 minutes, the contest would go on to extra time. Despite an additional 30 minutes on the clock, neither team managed to score in the period. Both sets of players appeared to be fairly exhausted ahead of the penalty shootout. A similar instance occurred just on Friday between France and Portugal. The lethargic finish to the match has made <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-euro/pundits-call-for-change-after-france-portugal-scoreless-game/">some question</a> the point of extra time.</p>



<p>England eventually edged out the victory in the penalty shootout. The Three Lions triumphed thanks to a save from Pickford in Switzerland’s first shot from the spot. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> defender Manuel Akanji sent a fairly weak effort towards goal and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/everton-tv-schedule/">Everton</a> star easily blocked the ball. England, on the other hand, converted all five of their penalty shots. Southgate’s team will next face the winner of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/netherlands-national-team-tv-schedule/">Netherlands</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/turkey-national-team-tv-schedule/">Turkey</a> in the semifinals.</p>



<p>Photo credits: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images</p>

Saka, Pickford propel England into Euro 2024 semifinals

England made it to the Euro 2024 semifinals after a penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland on Saturday evening

destacadas


<p>Chelsea, despite signing Robert Sanchez for $30 million from Brighton in the summer, are exploring options to strengthen their goalkeeping department. Sanchez’s arrival was influenced by the Blues’ goalkeeping coach, Ben Roberts, who recommended his former protege to the club’s hierarchy.</p>



<p>His arrival led to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> allowing Edouard Mendy’s transfer to the Saudi Pro League and loaning <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/when-real-madrid-call-its-easy-kepa-explains-bayern-snub-20230906-WST-454440.html">Kepa Arrizabalaga to Real Madrid</a>. Although Sanchez is currently the first-choice goalkeeper under Mauricio Pochettino, there are indications that the Stamford Bridge outfit does not consider him their first-choice goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.</p>



<h2>From Brighton’s third choice to a starter at Chelsea</h2>



<p>During the summer, the Spanish shot-stopper fell to third choice in Brighton’s hierarchy, losing the trust of manager Roberto De Zerbi in March. </p>



<p>However, just five months later, he suddenly went on to become the Blues’ primary option. The 25-year-old initially arrived as a backup to Kepa Arrizabalaga. The latter’s unexpected loan to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> has given him his chance to shine.</p>



<p>There has been no shortage of criticism for him since then. The Spain international has started 10 games in the Premier League this season, during which he has kept three clean sheets. On October 21, the ex-Brighton ‘keeper made a costly error against Arsenal, which brought him back into the public eye.</p>



<p>The team was winning comfortably by two goals when, with fifteen minutes remaining, the goalie sent a pass toward the middle of the field and instead gave the ball to Declan Rice. The Gunners fought back from a 2-0 disadvantage when Rice scored on their chance to tie the score at 2-2.</p>



<h2>Chelsea looks to lure Jordan Pickford</h2>



<p>Acquiring a new goalkeeper is not high on Chelsea’s list of priorities. Still, <a href="https://www.90min.com/posts/chelsea-scout-la-liga-goalkeeper-duo-possible-2024-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>90min</em></a> reports the club has not officially ruled out doing so in the next transfer window. Thus, they might aim to bring in a proven <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a> shot-stopper.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231102_WST_466852_Pickford-save-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-466902" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Pickford-save-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Pickford-save-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Pickford-save-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Pickford-save.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Jordan Pickford has been a reliable shot-stopper for both Everton and England.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The blue part of Merseyside might be where Mauricio Pochettino finds the top players that he has been looking for. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/englands-pickford-values-euro-2020-glory-over-personal-plaudits-20210701-CMS-338678.html">Jordan Pickford</a>, Everton’s goalkeeper, is the center of attention for Chelsea in that regard.</p>



<p>The 29-year-old has played for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/everton-tv-schedule">Everton</a> and Sunderland in the Premier League a combined 258 times as their starting option. Between those 64 games, Pickford has not let a single goal against.</p>



<p>The chance to compete for big prizes in a new environment in west London may appeal to England’s top players. However, the Blues are in a rebuilding phase of their own. Currently, Chelsea is 11th in the Premier League standings, having piled up 12 points through 10 encounters.</p>



<p>Pickford has made 12 total appearances this season and has kept two clean sheets. It is unclear if Chelsea would make a bid to acquire the goalie in the next January transfer window. It can also wait until the upcoming summer, <em>90min</em> journalist Graeme Bailey has added on the&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ten-hags-job-under-threat-de-bruynes-man-city-future/id1618416642?i=1000633215133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Talking Transfers</a>&nbsp;podcast.</p>



<p>Pickford’s abilities are highly regarded not only at the club level but also on the international stage. Since making his England debut in December 2015, Gareth Southgate has given him 56 starts. In doing so, the youngster cemented his position as the Three Lions’ first option.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Chelsea eye new goalkeeper in Premier League transfer hunt

There have been persistent rumors that Chelsea may visit the blue half of Merseyside in their search for Jordan Pickford.

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>Everton’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Thursday clinched Premier League safety. The club’s almost 70-year run in England’s top flight continues into the 2022/23 season.</p>
<p>Quite frankly, it would likely be over without Frank Lampard being appointed as manager. Lampard faced constant critiques for his job performance at Chelsea. At Everton, he showed an ability to dig in and perform under adverse circumstances. Now, a platform for further growth exists.</p>
<p>After five years of disastrous management, Everton are back on track. Critics derided Lampard for his work at Chelsea. Pundits claimed he was not ready for a managerial role at a ‘big-time’ club. Nearing the conclusion of the 2021/22 season, Lampard provided the Toffees something to build on. It is the first time that sentiment rolled into Goodison park since the big-spending Fareed Moshiri era started in 2017.</p>
<p>Under David Moyes, Everton consistently did more with less. It established itself as the “biggest” side outside the extremely wealthy sides. Everton’s history holds more seasons of top flight soccer than any other club in a top European league. A new transfusion of cash arrived to transform the club. It accomplished that task, only for the worse.</p>
<p>The UK media loved to point out <a href="https:\/\/talksport.com/football/1022636/everton-news-transfer-farhad-moshiri-net-worth-premier-league/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Everton’s high net spend</a> over the last few seasons. In fact, it surpassed local rivals Liverpool.</p>
<h3>Bad Business</h3>
<h5>Players</h5>
<p>Precious little of the above-referenced spending has been made with a philosophy in mind. Marcel Brands ran Everton’s football side. He made personnel decisions. Oftentimes, he hired head coaches for vanity purposes who used players as they saw fit. Sometimes, coaches did have an impact on transfers. For example, Marco Silva had a say on the transfer of Richarlison to Everton. This was actually one of the few good pieces of business from Everton. Still, more often than not, Everton’s dealings were a mess.</p>
<p>Brands’s strategy seemed to be to find the sexiest name possible on the transfer market and overpay for that player. It did not matter what the club needed. Everton made a business of buying former Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Spurs players.</p>
<p>The same applied to managers.</p>
<h5>Managers</h5>
<p>Marco Silva was an intriguing hire in 2018. Ultimately, he didn’t improve the squad. Following Silva’s sacking in November 2019, Everton failed to pursue former player Mikel Arteta. He could be there to build a project, but instead Arsenal signed the former midfielder. Rather, Everton wanted a big-name hire.</p>
<p>Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez may both be UEFA Champions League-winning managers. However, they were not good fits for Everton’s aims. Instead, Ancelotti and Benitez fit the philosophy of the club for a visible name. This is irrespective of style or long-term build.</p>
<p>Ancelotti had some successes last season, highlighted by a win at Anfield. Yet, by the end of the campaign, Everton played some of the most dire soccer in the division. Conservatism and safety reigned even under a perceived elite manager.</p>
<p>That situation worsened under Benitez. He inherited an expensively assembled side but immediately ran off James Rodriguez.</p>
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">On repeat. All night. 💙 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/jrX4JFkBPp">pic.twitter.com/jrX4JFkBPp</a></p>
<p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/Everton/status/1527393159046647811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote></div>
<p><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The season started decently enough. By November, it was clear Benitez was the wrong guy for the job. A change was imminent with injuries mounting and young players not developing. Even worse, Benitez ran off Lucas Digne, the club’s best player whom Aston Villa gladly took off the Toffees’ hands.</p>
<p>Brands left the club in December after a dispute with Benitez. Yet, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/01/16/benitez-sacked-as-everton-manager/">Everton sacked the former Liverpool manager</a> weeks later. This is a further representation of the dysfunction at Goodison Park. The replacement, Lampard, took flack from the UK media. A legendary player who managed Chelsea, on surface level he got the job based on his name.</p>
<p>In fact, he proved to be the right choice.</p>
<h5>Arrival of Frank Lampard</h5>
<p>Lampard’s tactical acumen still may not be there. However, his man management and eye for talent is superb. At Chelsea, Lampard fast-tracked the likes of Mason Mount and Reece James. He also ensured playing time for Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori. All four of these players are important to their current clubs.</p>
<p>Similarly, he made the right calls at Everton.</p>
<p>Even more significantly perhaps, he assembled a top backroom staff led by Paul Clement. Perhaps this contributed to his ill-fated Chelsea tenure.</p>
<p>Let’s have a closer look at Lampard’s biggest calls and successes.</p>
<h3>How Lampard managed Everton to Premier League safety</h3>
<h5>Alex Iwobi</h5>
<p>The change in Iwobi’s game has been discernible. Employed as an attacking midfielder and oddly a right wing-back in recent weeks, Iwobi shows an ability to cut inside in possession and play a more dynamic role.</p>
<p>Iwobi had always been seen as a pacy winger by the likes of Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti. Lampard identified more in the player and transformed his role accordingly. This change allowed Iwobi to thrive in a way not seen as possible by his former managers. Moreover, Iwobi’s success gave Lampard the confidence to be tactically flexible in how he deploys Iwobi.</p>
<h5>Anthony Gordon</h5>
<p>Gordon did get a lot of time toward the end of Benitez’s tenure. His ability to pick a pass and make timely runs were not evident under the Spaniard. Lampard provided Gordon the same level of freedom as more experienced players. Plus, Gordon had the same commitment from his manager to get a run of matches just like Mount at Chelsea.</p>
<p>On one hand, both Gordon and Mount were both clear-cut prodigal-level talents. Still, it takes a nurturing hand and superior man management to get the best out of young players. More often than not, highly touted young English players fail to reach the heights Mount has and Gordon appears headed for.</p>
<h5>Three midfielders at all times</h5>
<p>A key to Lampard providing Everton with Premier League safety is the tactical difference.</p>
<p>Lampard made some odd formation decisions in the first month after taking the Everton job. When the Toffees went to a three-at-the-back formation with two midfielders in a 3-4-3, opposition routinely carved Everton open. The 4-4-2 did not work much better. A reversion to the 4-3-3 and at times during matches a unique 3-2-2-2-1 (or 3-6-1 if you prefer) has given the side the stability to minimize goal opportunities the other way even if the goal threat is not always potent up top.</p>
<h5>A real fighting spirit</h5>
<p>In Lampard’s Chelsea tenure, he often looked angry or distant on the touchline when things went wrong. Backed by a ruckus Goodison crowd or loud traveling contingent, this changed with Everton. Lampard seemingly fed off his club’s supporters and imparted a fighting spirit in his players.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="z683NKQVLv"><p><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/11/everton-schedules-two-games-on-usa-summer-tour/">Everton schedules two games on USA summer tour</a></p></blockquote>
<div class="ckeditor-em"><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Everton schedules two games on USA summer tour” — World Soccer Talk" src="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/11/everton-schedules-two-games-on-usa-summer-tour/embed/#?secret=yuQpN3PNbV#?secret=z683NKQVLv" data-secret="z683NKQVLv" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>
<p>Previously, Everton got down because of the malaise around Goodison. Now, the players and coaches use energy to their advantage. In the end, the crowd and support lifted the Toffees over the line. That passion and change in attitude of the fans was largely down to Lampard’s management.</p>
<h5>Confidence in Pickford</h5>
<p>Previous Everton managers have toyed with the idea of pressuring, or even sitting, England’s number one.&nbsp; Not Frank Lampard. As a result, Pickford has, in the last two months, turned in some of the best shot-stopping performances of his distinguished career.</p>
<h5>Playing Mykolenko at Left back</h5>
<p>Ukranian Vitaliy Mykolenko arrived from Dynamo Kyiv in Janaury as a direct replacement for Digne.</p>
<p>Between Everton’s relegation fight and the <a href="https:\/\/www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/ukraine-invasion-evertons-mykolenko-criticises-silence-of-russian-players/">war in his homeland</a>, Mykolenko starting was a risky call for Lampard. In fact, he did not start the Ukrainian until his second month in charge.</p>
<p>However, the young player showed more than capable of excelling in the Premier League. Again, this man management decision by Lampard was spot on.</p>
<h5>The Takeaway</h5>
<p>As the relegation fight intensified, much of the media decried Everton’s reckless spending and the Lampard hire.</p>
<p>The media is correct on the former. They were dead-wrong on the latter. Everton finding safety in this Premier League campaign was all about strong management from Lampard. Making difficult, but correct, calls in terms of player selection and tactics guaranteed another year in the English Premier League.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Gareth Copley/Getty Images</em></p>


Frank Lampard, maligned as a hire early on rescued Everton with Premier League safety. He provided the Toffees with a spring board to build.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Jordan Pickford"

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