Football News: England’s Penalty Prowess Shines Ahead of Euro 2024 Showdown with the Netherlands
After England’s dramatic penalty shootout victory against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, the Three Lions are feeling confident about their chances should their upcoming semi-final clash with the Netherlands also end up being decided from the spot.
Penalty Shootout Success Under Southgate
Since Gareth Southgate took charge, England have won two out of their three penalty shootouts in major tournaments, suggesting they have finally put the demons of past defeats behind them. In fact, the current England squad boasts an abundance of top-class penalty takers, with the team priced at 8/1 with William Hill to triumph in a shootout against the Dutch.
England’s Penalty Specialists
Harry Kane remains the first-choice penalty taker, having an impressive 87% conversion rate for both club and country. In Kane’s absence during the Switzerland match, young Chelsea star Cole Palmer stepped up and made no mistake, taking his tally of successful spot-kicks to 14 from 14.
Other reliable options for Southgate include Champions League winner Jude Bellingham, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, and Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who has scored 30 of his 32 career penalties. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, and Phil Foden also provide strong alternatives, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has proven to be a reliable penalty stopper for the national team.
“With a wealth of composure and skill from the spot, England fans will be hoping their team’s penalty prowess will be on full display should their crucial semi-final against the Netherlands go all the way to a shootout.”
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