Euro 2024: Southgate admits criticism hurt as England move on - ESPN

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — Gareth Southgate has admitted he has found the personal criticism of his management «difficult» in recent weeks but hailed his «streetwise» England side as they beat Switzerland on penalties to reach the Euro 2024 semifinals.

Bukayo Saka's 80th-minute equaliser cancelled out Breel Embolo's opening goal five minutes earlier as Gareth Southgate's side were forced into extra time for the second consecutive game.

Switzerland edged the additional 30-minute period — Xherdan Shaqiri hit the post with a 117th-minute corner — but as Manuel Akanji had his penalty saved by Jordan Pickford in the shootout, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored.

England only registered three shots on target all night and were once again stifled in possession despite Southgate switching to a three-man defence in an effort to improve their level of performance.

Southgate had beer cups thrown at him when drawing with Slovenia to top Group C and has faced a backlash to England's conservative style, but will lead England into a third semifinal from his four tournaments in charge.

After celebrating with a short dance on the pitch following Alexander-Arnold's winning penalty, former England Under-21's coach Southgate said: «Every now and then you think: 'Surely there has to be some enjoyment in this job.'

»So, if I can't enjoy that moment then the whole thing is a waste of time. I love the players. I love being in that moment with them. I took this job to try and improve English football, not the seniors when I first joined the Football Association.

«I wanted us to regain credibility on the world stage. So I can't deny that when it is as personal as it has been in the past few weeks, on a