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Declan Rice Luke ShawGetty/GOAL
Aditya Gokhale

'It was needed' - Luke Shaw reveals Declan Rice's key role in England's penalty shootout triumph over Switzerland - despite Arsenal star not taking spot-kick

England qualified for the semi-final with a penalty shootout win over Switzerland and Luke Shaw has revealed how Declan Rice played a big role.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Luke Shaw talks about Switzerland win
  • Never doubted Alexander-Arnold with final penalty
  • Reveals Rice kept players calm during shootout
  • England(C)Getty Images

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    England are two wins away from winning their first major title since the 1966 World Cup, however, the road so far in the knockout stages has been anything but easy for the Three Lions. Following an injury-time comeback and extra-time win over Slovakia, Gareth Southgate's men had to come back from a goal down against Switzerland before taking down the Swiss in a penalty shootout. Shaw has now revealed that Rice played a massive role in the shootout win despite not being one of the penalty-takers.

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  • WHAT SHAW SAID

    Speaking on The Lions' Den, Shaw spoke about the calmness around the shootout and said: "I was next to him [Trent Alexander-Arnold] the whole time and I was really confident, he seemed really relaxed, calm like we said we have our routines anyway and we practice them a lot so everyone knew what they were doing.

    "It was very calculated and we all knew what was going to happen so when he stepped up I had full faith in him and I knew he was going to score."

    He then went on to praise Rice for calming the players down: "Declan [Rice] was our speaker, he was calming everyone down and telling them to do their breathing techniques and manifest them. It was needed."

  • Gareth Southgate England 2024Getty Images

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Throughout the tournament, England have struggled for consistency as they have failed to maintain a level to their game that was expected from fans coming into the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the trophy at the Olympastadion in Berlin. Part of the reason has been Shaw's injury absence as Southgate's only natural left-back which has caused a few tactical issues, however, Southgate and England fans will be hoping that Shaw's return will allow the team to come together to win the title in a week.

    Check out the latest Euro 2024 winner odds

  • WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

    England will take on the Netherlands at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on July 10 in the semi-finals of the Euros and look to book a spot in the final against either France or Spain.