England vs Switzerland LIVE: Result, final score and reaction from international friendly
Follow all the action from Wembley as the Three Lions continue their preparations for the World Cup
If the purpose of these international friendlies in the no man’s land between qualifying and a major tournament is to experiment and learn lessons, then mission accomplished for England and Gareth Southgate. An old system including some new faces was tested and struggled against Switzerland, before changes were needed in order to come from behind and make a winning start to this World Cup year.
One thing these games are also useful for is a bit of stat-padding. Harry Kane is now level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 goals for his country, with only all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney left to catch. The England captain completed the turnaround with an emphatically converted 78th-minute penalty, awarded against Steven Zuber for handball after a lengthy VAR check.
Breel Embolo had initially put Switzerland in front, capitalising on a Benjamin White error, and deservedly so. England were rough around the edges and mostly second-best until Luke Shaw’s equaliser on the brink of half time, after which the pattern of the game shifted with all the substitutions that come in these friendlies. To be honest, there was not much of a rhythm to the game before that either. Follow reaction to England’s win over Switzerland below:
Kane penalty earns England comeback win over Switzerland at Wembley
If the purpose of these international friendlies in the no man’s land between qualifying and a major tournament is to experiment and learn lessons, then mission accomplished for England and Gareth Southgate. An old system including some new faces was tested and struggled against Switzerland, before changes were needed in order to come from behind and make a winning start to this World Cup year.
One thing these games are also useful for is a bit of stat-padding. Harry Kane is now level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 goals for his country, with only all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney left to catch. The England captain completed the turnaround with an emphatically converted 78th-minute penalty, awarded against Steven Zuber for handball after a lengthy VAR check.
Breel Embolo had initially put Switzerland in front, capitalising on a Benjamin White error, and deservedly so. England were rough around the edges and mostly second-best until Luke Shaw’s equaliser on the brink of half time, after which the pattern of the game shifted with all the substitutions that come in these friendlies. To be honest, there was not much of a rhythm to the game before that either.
Complaining that these games are not especially entertaining spectacles is like criticising the chimpanzee with a typewriter for not writing great literature. When it comes to producing classics that live long in the memory, they have about the same success rate. As the Mexican waves ran around the national stadium beneath floating paper planes, you knew this was a Wembley friendly. But that does not mean it was not useful.
Mark Critchley’s match report from Wembley:
Kane penalty earns England comeback win over Switzerland at Wembley
England 2-1 Switzerland: Shaw and Kane net for the Three Lions after Embolo’s opener amid a much-changed line-up
Watch Harry Kane score England’s winner from the penalty spot against Switzerland
Harry Kane buried a penalty which hit notable numbers in the closing minutes of England’s friendly win over Switzerland.
The striker netted his 49th international goal in the process, drawing him level with Sir Bobby Charlton as the national team’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, behind only Wayne Rooney. It also proved the match-winner as the Three Lions triumphed 2-1.
Full-time: England 2-1 Switzerland
England captain Harry Kane told Sky: “It was a tough game. It is a big year ahead, it’s a good chance for us to try some different systems and formations.
“I felt it was a good performance and some improvements but a good start to the year.
“We rotated a bit of the squad as well. Some new faces getting their debuts. Really good to see the young players coming in and playing confident.”
On the penalty: “Mark [Guehi] got their first and headed it. It was one of them where the defender has jumped for it. As a striker you have to be ready in any moment, Penalties are a great way of getting on the score sheet.
“I always say it’s amazing company to be with. Super proud to be among those names. But we always look to the next one.”
Watch Luke Shaw hammer in England’s equaliser against Switzerland
England weren’t behind for too long at Wembley against Switzerland, following Breel Embolo’s opener.
Surprisingly, though, it was wing-back Luke Shaw who provided the route back to parity; striding onto Conor Gallagher’s square pass initially intended for Mason Mount, Shaw sent a left-footed piledriver inside the near post to draw the Three Lions back level and stir memories of his strike in last summer’s Euro 2020 final.
Full-time: England 2-1 Switzerland
England have managed to secure a win at Wembley despite not having the upper hand for the majority of the match.
Embolo struck first a great header but Shaw equalised before half-time. But it was England’s man of the moment Harry Kane’s penalty who sealed the win.
He is now level with Sir Bobby Charlton and four within Rooney’s goal scoring record.
A great outing for those on their debuts with Gallagher standing out on his first cap.
England will face the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Watch Breel Embolo score Switzerland’s opener against England
England fell behind in the first half in the face of some fierce pressure from the visitors, Breel Embolo eventually heading in past Jordan Pickford following Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross.
The Swiss side also struck the woodwork twice during that first 45 minutes, before England sparked back into life.
England 2-1 Switzerland, 90+4 min
There’s four minutes added here, can England see out the win?
Apologies, the earlier shot on target came from Coady, it was Sterling who crossed it to the Wolves man.
England look to run down the clock but Watkins clips someone and gives away a free kick.
Rice does well to clear the ball in the box and Aebischer’s shot deflects over the bar.
England 2-1 Switzerland, 90 min
Kane runs a great line to receive the balk from Grealish but they lose possession on the edge of the box.
Switzerland have sustained possession around the box but Pickford clears.
Rodriguez gets a good cross but Sterling clears, Switzerland manage to keep the ball in a good position but Rodriguez skies it.
England then make a change as skipper Kane comes off for Watkins, the armband going to Henderson.
England get a free kick with Grealish fouled, no surprise there!
Omlin almost had a shocker as the ball goes behind him with Bellingham pouncing, his defenders clear the ball. England corner and Grealish goes short. Sterling gets a shot on target.
England 2-1 Switzerland, 85 min
England look to close out this match and they are reverting to passing at the back with some coming to Pickford.
The Three Lions are moving it forward and they find Grealish as the bouncing ball goes across goal. But the Manchester City man is pressured into running away from goal
Switzerland look to feed a play on goal but Pickford came out to collect.
Henderson gets the ball into the box with J Bellingham almost getting a head to it. It came back out for Kane but he gives the ball away with a foul.
England 2-1 Switzerland 80 min
Kane has now moved within four of Wayne Rooney’s all-time goal record. Can he do it in these friendlies?
You have to feel for Zuber who’s hand the ball hit, there was no intent there.
Embolo is off for Switzerland, I didn’t see who came on but will update you as soon as I know.
Bellingham on for England.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies