• Questions to Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa blocked
• Team were ‘absolutely crucified’ for Euro 2020 final shootout says Southgate

The Football Association’s determination to relieve pressure on England at Euro 2024 has led them to throw a veil of secrecy over the team’s approach to penalties, underlined by players being blocked from answering questions about the squad’s shootout process.

It is understood there has been unhappiness within the FA at former staff members lifting the lid on the heavily detailed psychological work done to alter England’s tortured relationship with spot-kicks. There have been pointed remarks from Gareth Southgate, who has driven much of the change, and officials were reluctant to allow any insights to leak out after the nerveless shootout victory in Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland.

• ‘They need to see me strong in those moments’
• Manager must choose between Konsa and Guéhi for semi

Gareth Southgate has hit out at the personal nature of the criticism and ridicule aimed at him but said it is fuelling his attempts to guide England to glory at Euro 2024.

England secured their third semi-final in four tournament appearances under Southgate after beating Switzerland on penalties and are determined to keep the journey going when they face the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday. This is expected to be the manager’s final tournament in charge of England and he has seemed worn down at various points over the past month.

As if to sum up the weirdness of this England team stumbling into the semi-finals of Euro 2024, perhaps the only time they looked in control against Switzerland was when it went to penalties. Before then? Choked play in the final third, chaotic defending in extra time and touchline inertia were the overriding themes – or at least they would have been had another moment of individual brilliance, this time from the magnificent Bukayo Saka, not saved Gareth Southgate again.

Switzerland had England on the ropes when Breel Embolo made it 1-0 after 75 minutes. Murat Yakin’s team were dominant for much of the second half, raising the prospect of Southgate’s 100th game in charge being his last. His decisions had not worked – again. Harry Kane was off the pace – again. It was reactive from Southgate when he introduced Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze and Luke Shaw with 12 minutes left – again.

• Bellingham given suspended ban and fine for gesture
• Southgate set to switch to back three against Switzerland

Gareth Southgate has said he will not take the emotion out of Jude Bellingham’s game after Uefa punished the midfielder for his lewd celebration against Slovakia with a €30,000 fine (£25,400) and a suspended one‑match ban that leaves him free to play in England’s quarter-final against Switzerland.

Bellingham was investigated after being shown on television kissing his right hand and making a crotch-grabbing action after his ­spectacular stoppage-time goal kept England in the Euros. The 21-year-old said it was “an inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game” and in no way aimed at the Slovakia bench, but he has been sanctioned after Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body found him guilty of “violating the basic rules of decent conduct”.

• Midfielder kissed hand before crotch-grabbing gesture
• Turkey’s Demiral gets two-game ban for ‘wolf’ salute

Jude Bellingham is clear to face Switzerland on Saturday after being fined €30,000 (£25,400) and given a suspended one-match ban by Uefa for his lewd gesture after scoring England’s dramatic equali­ser against Slovakia.

Bellingham was shown on TV to have kissed his right hand before making a crotch-grabbing ­action. He said it had been “an inside‑joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game” and in no way aimed at the Slovakia bench.

Defender hopes shift in Gareth Southgate’s side can fire them past Switzerland on Saturday into the semi-finals

Some teams never know when they are beaten. Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are kings of the comeback, Liverpool had Jürgen Klopp’s mentality monsters and Manchester United had all those last-minute winners under Sir Alex Ferguson.

As for John Stones, his mind always goes straight back to the day Manchester City almost threw the title away on the final day of the 2021-22 season. Two-nil down to Aston Villa with 14 minutes left, Pep Guardiola’s team were in danger of handing the trophy to Liverpool before goals from Rodri and Ilkay Gündogan inspired an incredible turnaround.

• System tried in training with Konsa as Guéhi replacement
• Stones says he is fit despite knee strapping in training

John Stones is confident England are capable of a seamless switch to a back three if Gareth Southgate presses ahead with plans to change formation in Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland.

Marc Guéhi’s one-game ban has forced England into at least one defensive change and it is understood they have used training sessions this week to trial a return to the system that carried them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

Centre-forward came on late in last 16 and knows he will have to bide his time again in quarter-final

Few top sides play with two up front these days. Some prefer to use a false 9. At Euro 2024, there have been suggestions that no task in football is more thankless than having to be Harry Kane’s back-up. England’s captain always starts.

Gareth Southgate has not drawn on the memory of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham’s partnership at Euro 96. His preference is to have Kane leading the line on his own, with Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka supporting him from attacking midfield.

• Neil Bath and Jim Fraser set to leave posts
• Bath had been at Stamford Bridge since 2004

Joe Shields is in contention for a senior role in Chelsea’s revamped academy setup, with the club planning a restructure after being informed that Neil Bath and Jim Fraser are set to leave their positions.

Bath, who is widely credited with creating one of the most successful youth systems in the country, became Chelsea’s academy director in 2004 and earned a promotion in November 2022 after being made director of football development and operations. He has worked closely with Fraser, who stepped into the role of head of youth development and recruitment last year.

• ‘I feel sorry for Gareth. We have to be leaders’
• Back three trialled in training before quarter-final

Phil Foden has defended Gareth Southgate’s tactics and insisted ­England’s players should shoulder more of the blame for the team’s underwhelming performances at Euro 2024.

Now the euphoria of beating ­Slovakia in dramatic circumstances on Sunday has faded, England’s focus is on making sure there is a drastic improvement in their quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday. Southgate has been ramping up his preparations and it remains to be seen if he will adjust his tactics against Murat Yakin’s dangerous side.

• Portugal international nearly joined club last year
• Bundesliga side set to pay an initial €51m

Bayern Munich have agreed to sign the Fulham midfielder João Palhinha in a deal worth up to €56m (£47.4m). Palhinha almost moved to the Allianz Arena last year, only for the deal to break down on the final day of the transfer window.

Bayern’s interest has not gone away and they are set to pay an initial €51m plus €5m in add-ons for the Portugal international, who has been waiting for approval to move to the Bundesliga club. The sale will be a club record for Fulham, who will need to use the funds to bolster their midfield.

• London club could return with improved offer
• Wolves’ Max Kilman also on Hammers’ radar

West Ham have had a £25m bid for the Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo turned down.

Julen Lopetegui, West Ham’s new manager, is looking to sign a new centre-back and has targeted the Frenchman after failing to agree a fee with Wolves for Max Kilman.

Gareth Southgate’s team need to improve against Switzerland – and there is plenty of scope for doing so

It is easy to play through England at the moment. Gareth Southgate has talked about a high press being a core part of his team’s identity, but it has not functioned properly at Euro 2024. Harry Kane, who is meant to be leading from the front, has looked lethargic and the issue has been exacerbated by Jude Bellingham’s wandering. Yet there is no obligation on England to continue their attempts to press given they have been so confused and uncoordinated. Southgate has to recognise that there are too many gaps to cover once opponents break through the first line of defence. An obvious solution would be to tell his players to drop off and exert a smothering mid‑block. England need to be more awkward to break down. There should be more emphasis on drawing teams out, luring them into traps and then hitting them on the break.