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:
GOAL! England 2-1 Switzerland (Kane 79’)
Kane puts it in the left hand corner, Omlin goes the right way but it has too much power for the keeper!
PENALTY! England 1-1 Switzerland, 78 min
Pickford reads a Swiss play well as the ball is sent into the box from far out. The keeper came out of goal to catch the ball and sends England on an attack.
White crosses the ball in with Rodriguez conceding a corner. Grealish takes the corner with England calling for handball in the box.
VAR reviews it, it looks as though the ball has rebounded onto his arm and there’s no intent. There’s a long old wait and then the referee runs over to have a look himself.
The ref gives the pen and Kane will surely step up!
England 1-1 Switzerland, 73 min
England had the ball for quite some time but Kane lost it in the midfield.
The game is slowing down a lot, especially from that first half tempo but Wembley come to life every time England have the ball in their own half.
The ball comes into Kane in the box who gets a head to it but Omlin saves well.
Grealish uses great footwork to run the ball around defenders and he finds White who gets a shot away. Omlin forced to make another save.
Omlin has played well this match considering it is only his fourth cap for his country. Both keepers performing for their sides.
England 1-1 Switzerland, 68 min
The ball is pinballing between the teams with the subs keen to make an impact.
It’s interesting how much England are using Pickford, it seems they’re nervous to get going up the pitch and keep passing back to the keeper.
Switzerland have the upper hand and have throughout this match. England need an injection of pace and need to control the ball when in possession to stop giving the ball away.
England are now with the ball but for how long?
England 1-1 Switzerland, 63 min
Mbabu wins a corner after sustained build-up play.
Shaqiri takes the kick but the cross doesn’t find a teammate.
The ball is sent out of play at 60 minutes to show appreciation for the late England fan Kevin Norman.
England make changes as Gallagher comes off for Rice. Shaw is off for Mitchell, Sterling comes on for Walker-Peters and Grealish is on for Mount.
Switzerland also make some subs. Steffen, Freuler, Vargas are off
Zequiri, Zuber and Sow on.
England 1-1 Switzerland, 60 min
White concedes a corner but Kane heads the ball to safety. Switzerland remain in possession but they are forced back to halfway.
Embolo has been having a great game and he does well to battle with Shaw and Kane in the corner. The ball is given to England but it was a valiant effort.
It looks as though Rice and Sterling will be on soon with the players warming up on the sidelines. Mitchell also looks as though he’s getting ready to come on, a debut for the youngster if he does!
Gallagher again makes a great break but Shaw can’t get the shot away.
England 1-1 Switzerland, 55 min
A challenge from Gallagher on Shaqiri gives Switzerland a good position to attack from.
They build a nice play but Shaqiri is ruled offside. Pickford kicks short and it takes England a while to clear their lines but they do with Gallagher at the heart of another attack.
He feeds Kane, who almost gets in but Omlin does enough to pressure the Spurs man.
England win a corner from the play, Mount kicks it in and Guehi and Coady get to it but can’t hit it in.
Swiss throw in as Walker-Peters clears so Vargas can’t capitalise on a chance.
England 1-1 Switzerland, 50 min
Pickford’s first kick runs out of play to give Switzerland a throw in. Rodriguez takes his time but eventually throws it but it ends up with England.
An England throw in sees Gallagher hit to the floor with a challenge from Rodriguez to get a free kick.
Mount takes the kick but it’s easily cleared. England get it back as Switzerland look to counter and try to build play from their own half.
England win a corner as White sends the ball upfield with Kane passing to Shaw and his cross is deflected.
Foden takes the corner but it had too much on it. Mount recovers the kick but Switzerland end on a counter.
Gallagher intervenes with England now in possession. So much action in this early second half period.
England 1-1 Switzerland, 45 min
We are back underway at Wembley.
Can England build on the momentum created by Shaw’s goal or will Switzerland have the upper hand as they did in the first 45?
We will soon find out!
Half-time: England 1-1 Switzerland
England are playing the second half of their international friendly match with Switzerland at Wembley without names on the back of their shirts as part of a campaign to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
The match itself has been officially renamed the Alzheimer’s Society International and the players’ gesture is designed to highlight how sufferers of the disease forget precious memories as well as everyday things including the names of their favourite footballers. The shirts will be auctioned to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Read the full story:
Why aren’t England wearing names on their shirts?
The shirts for England’s friendly match against Switzerland will be auctioned to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society
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