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An old-timer refuses to look in the mirror and realise his time is up. He can’t accept that stepping away would be the right thing for his country. Joe Biden, um, wait, Cristiano Ronaldo had a difficult Friday night, ending his tournament goalless after taking 23 shots. Perhaps, in a brief moment of self-reflection, he’ll realise that his lot from here on in is dismantling Saudi Pro League relegation battlers. Or perhaps his Portugal manager, Roberto Martínez, gives him a cuddle, whispers something about his selflessness in refusing to ever find the net, and ingrains a novel thought: FOUR MORE YEARS!

Germany’s dreams of glory are also over as is Turkey’s underdog run, and England looked as if they were heading out until Bukayo Saka decided enough was enough against Switzerland, apparently turning the Düsseldorf Arena into the Emirates as he cut in from the right to lash in the equaliser. Cue the extra 30 minutes and a penalty display which was thoroughly un-English. Where were the nerves? Where was the sense of history crashing down on them? Where was Ricardo, gloves off, sending them out in the quarters?

Instead there was the audacity of a newest generation, one representing a break from the first, more cathartic penalty win of the Southgate era: none of the five scorers lined up against Colombia six years ago. All were ice-cold in their approach, even Saka when he had so many reasons not to be. The racists were ready to bust out a sequel to their original three years ago, and such is the peculiarity of their situation, they were, as Rio Ferdinand pointed out, probably celebrating when Saka slotted into the bottom right corner. His smile upon scoring will go down as one of the most wonderful images of this tournament.

Meanwhile Jordan Pickford has normalised his excellence in an England shirt, establishing a reputation as a nerveless shootout operator who has the perfect combination of crazy and calm. But the sight of his water bottle, with the perfectly typed-up and formatted guide on where to dive, was something to lament, highlighting the formalisation of the spot-kick cheat sheet. There was something more romantic about the old way, of a crumpled, sweat-stained, handwritten note tucked into the socks, as Jens Lehmann showcased at the 2006 World Cup against Argentina. Nonetheless, the more refined approach is working out pretty well for Pickford, to the point that penalties should almost be welcomed by England as the final week begins. Away to the last four we go.

Congratulations to all those who responded to the danger hovering over our beautiful country. Long live diversity, long live the republic, long live France. The fight goes on.”

Given the huffing and puffing and general immobility of various ageing forwards during Euro 2024, I’m surprised that Big Website hasn’t put together a quiz – ‘Professional Footballer or Easter Island Statue?’” – Darren Leathley.

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Here’s what the man of the moment, Bukayo Saka, had to say last night about stepping up for his penalty, three years on from that miss against Italy at Wembley.

You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not and I’m a guy that is going to put myself in that position. It’s something I embrace. I believed in myself and when I saw the ball hit the net, I was a very happy man.

I wasn’t focusing on the past – that’s done. I can only focus on now. Of course I know there’s lot of nervous people watching, my family included in the crowd, but I kept my cool and scored. We have some of best taker penalty takers in the world and we had talked about that if it did come to penalties, we would be confident. I’m happy we showed that today and scored five out of five.

Cricketing legend is proud of the young team primed to take on England at Lord’s: ‘Hopefully their style will come out’

Joy fills his voice but not the pure, childish type. It sounds like rediscovered happiness, amplified by the stinging pain of the past. “Young, inexperienced, written off,” bellows Brian Lara in the commentary box as Shamar Joseph, the irrepressible fast bowler with a battered toe, celebrates with his teammates.

“This West Indies team can stand tall today, West Indies cricket can stand tall today.” They have their first Test win in Australia since 1997.

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Some lovely stuff around the net from Paolini. She anticipates the drop-shot well and then shows a delicate touch with the volley to see out the point. And then, in the next point, she unfurls a fantastic volley on the stretch.

Andreescu’s early momentum seems to have already been halted. Ah, but at 15-40 and under pressure, goes bang, bang – successive aces.

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Change is on its way. The country has been pleading for it, anything to stop the spread of stagnation, everything to shake up the established order. Gareth Southgate appears to have listened. In this moment of desperation, the England manager is apparently set to pay an old friend a visit, one who provided him the happiest of times before a falling out three years ago, when things didn’t work out at Wembley against Italy. Why hello again, Back Three.

It’s an urgent situation. We cannot let our country fall into the hands of these people. It is pressing. We saw the results, it’s catastrophic. We really hope it’s going to change: that everyone is going to rally together, go and vote, and vote for the correct party” – France talisman Kylian Mbappé laments the performance of National Rally in the French elections, before Sunday’s crunch runoff vote.

Of course, I get my all information needs from Big Website (ahem), but I did chance upon this wondrous piece in the latest Economist on England fans following the team in Gelsenkirchen, which has the only opening paragraph you will ever see that combines John Stones, needless swearing and former West German Chancellor W1lly Brandt. As I believe the youngsters say these days, ‘hang it in the Louvre’” – Noble Francis.

Re: yesterday’s Euro 2024 letters. Maybe you can make it a family affair and give letter o’ the day to Mark Matics’ brother Otto. A popular choice, I’d wager, given he is for the people. The other unsuccessful correspondents have to understand that everybody hurts … some times” – Derek McGee.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

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France or England? This was the toss-up before the Euros for who would win the whole thing, and it’s still, just about, a valid question. Both are in the last eight; both still possess an array of the world’s best. Both have also done their bit for science, using this tournament to offer an alternative cure to sleep deprivation. Results over entertainment has been the mantra of the favourites, with the French overly reliant on Monsieur Own Goal, a Golden Boot contender, and the English refusing to adopt a truly left-wing agenda (electoral views completely unintended).

Montella has become one of us now. He hugs and kisses everyone. He hugged me tightly and said ‘We dedicate this victory to the Turkish nation and especially to you’.

I want to thank Cristiano Ronaldo for his sterling work in promoting Thornton Heath (postcode CR7), the pride of Croydon” – Martin Davies.

Regarding the Dutch team going on the Tin [yesterday’s Quote of the Day], they will only be following their TV pundits who regularly enjoy a tipple while on the air. Here’s Pierre van Hooijdonk, among others, getting stuck in” – Gerry Rickard.

I agree with Pete Smith (yesterday’s letters) – it’s time we give the England players and Gareth a break. Where did this expectation that we play nice football come from anyway? We aren’t West Ham fans all of a sudden are we? Besides, didn’t the Hammers win a European trophy playing not-very-nice football with a manager they were all sick of?” – Ben North.

Good to see Mark Matics win letter o’ the day yesterday, but someone should tell his brother, Matthew, that his number’s up. I’ll get my coat” – Martyn Shapter.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

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Niall has gone for a well-earned bite to eat. Michael Butler here to guide you through the next little bit. We’ll start with some bits and bobs around England v Switzerland, scheduled for 5pm BST on Saturday. This is from Reuters:

Gareth Southgate has been criticised for not making many changes to his team but that could be about to change as they practised a back three in training, with Kyle Walker moved to the right of centre three and Bukayo Saka potentially playing as wing-back.

Of concern to Southgate is the fact that defender Marc Guehi, who has been solid on his major tournament debut, is suspended for Saturday’s match, John Stones has been training with his leg heavily bandaged and Luke Shaw has not played since February due to injury.