"It's about respect. And I know how the Swiss felt." Luke Shaw on his sporting gesture to the beaten Swiss.

When Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decisive penalty flew at a joyous, crazy pace into Switzerland’s net in Dusseldorf, England players sprinted from the centre-circle, punching the air, screaming in delight. All except two. Bukayo Saka sank to his knees, and offered up a prayer of thanks. Luke Shaw turned to his right, walked across to the crestfallen Swiss, and offered a consoling handshake to Xherdan Shaqiri, and then continued along the rueful row, giving a handshake here, a respectful tap on the shoulder there.

            Shaw felt for the Swiss just as he felt for Brighton & Hove Albion players when Manchester United defeated them in a shootout in the 2023 FA Cup semi-final. He consoled them, too. Shaw’s commendable sporting stems from his nature and also experiences that have brought perspective. He’s suffered in his career, endured a horrendous leg break against Dutch opponents, PSV Eindhoven in 2015, that might have ended the career of a less strong individual. Shaw was out for 327 days and admitted later he almost lost his leg. Memphis Depay, in the United side that night, lines up against Shaw in Dortmund.

Shaw, who turns 29 on Friday, also knows the pain of penalty heartache. He went from the heights of scoring in the Euro 2020 final, becoming only the third man after Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters to score in a final, to the depths of despair as England lost to Italy in the shootout. Compounding the anguish, friends like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Saka received horrendous abuse for missing.

            So he went across to the devastated Swiss, echoing other post-shootout sporting gestures down the years from Lothar Matthaus with Chris Waddle at Italia 90 to Gareth Southgate with Colombia’s players at the 2018 World Cup. “I've been in that situation before in the Euros final,” Shaw reflected today. “I know how I felt, it was the feeling to go and console them. For me, because I’ve been in that situation and it is not nice. It was more of a respect thing to go and say 'well done and all the best'.”

            So respect to Shaw, too. He’s been through some difficult times himself. In Shaw’s last five England appearances, he’s gone out of the World Cup in Doha, got sent off in Naples, got a sliver of criticism for a cautious performance in Malta, did deliver an assist for Harry Kane in the 7-0 romp against North Macedonia at Old Trafford and now has seen England through to the semi-finals of the European Championship after not playing for 139 days.

It was good to see him back on the pitch following the hamstring injury sustained against Luton Town on February 18. “The last four (five) months have been really tough,” Shaw said. He suffered a setback in training out here which delayed his return but he says he’s “fit and ready” to start against the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday. “I have a lot to thank him (Southgate) for because he showed a lot of faith and trust in picking me when he didn't have to and for that I will always be thankful. Now I need to repay the faith he showed in me. Shaw added that he could not understand any criticism of Southgate. “He's really taken us to the next level.”

He’s also been grateful for the support of Erik ten Hag, his manager at United. Shaw said that everyone at United was “pleased” that Ten Hag is staying on. “Look at the last two years, he's had a trophy in each season and there is definitely more to come.

“It (the club) is in the right place now. Definitely with the Boss signing the new contract and the new owners (co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe) coming in, things are looking really positive, there’s a big buzz around the place. I can definitely see things getting much better than they have been.”

His Dutch manager sent Shaw “a little cheeky message about the game” when England were pitted against the Netherlands. Shaw expects a “very tough” match in Dortmund. He knows Depay well. “He’s a massive threat for me. I spent a bit of time with him. I know what he is capable of. He’s an unbelievable player.”

            He’s also played with Wout Wieghorst. “He's a very strong opponent in and around the box, the duels in the air, he's very strong. He's a very hard worker. He’s not been starting but coming on and making a real impact.” So England will respect the Dutch.

            But Shaw was keen to highlight the strengths of England’s players like his club-mate Kobbie Mainoo, who is still only 19. “The growth is scary. I don't see him as a young lad any more. I see him as one of our main players, he's got the world at his feet. He can do everything. He just needs to stay level-headed, keep working hard and the world is his oyster, and he go on and achieve anything.”

            Shaw was similarly inspired by Jude Bellingham’s impact. “His progress has been frightening. When he first came in (to the England camp) as a young lad you could see the talent, he had the (right, strong) mentality and it was just about growing and doing the right things and he's done that. The thing about Jude, he thrives under the pressure. The more pressurised situations he's in, the more he likes to step in and show he's one the main men. Going back to Dortmund (where Bellingham played for Borussia), I think he's really going to enjoy the moment.”

            His admiration for Saka runs deep. “I just think he's the most humble guy I've ever met, the most likeable person. He's honest, very hard-working, amazing talent and extremely happy for him the other night with the penalty after what he's been through (the miss at Wembley). That was a proud and happy moment for everyone to see that. Everyone just loves him, don't they?!”

            Shaw has been in the England squad for a decade and has seen the changes, especially under Southgate. “We've got way more belief now than we ever had and also the togetherness. It helps with the players we've got now at our disposal. We've got world-class players all over the pitch and it’s getting to the crunch (time) when those players will step up, and try to reach another final.”

            He will never forget that Wembley final. “The feelings after that game were the worst I've ever felt, so of course the motivation is very high.” Win or lose, you know Shaw will react with dignity.