Fabio Capello's side lacked any real spark in their final game of the season and were punished as three goals in the space of five second-half minutes saw the game at Wembley take an unexpected and enthralling turn.
Tranquillo Barnetta started the deluge when striking twice in quick succession for Switzerland as he exploited some unconvincing goalkeeping and inattentive defending to convert two unconventional free-kicks.
Frank Lampard responded inside two minutes when converting from 12 yards after Johan Djourou fouled Jack Wilshere in the penalty box, and the midfielder's reward was to be substituted at half-time. His replacement, Ashley Young, then proceeded to produce a wonderful finish from a tidy move to make it 2-2 after 51 minutes as England pulled themselves back into contention.
But Darren Bent was guilty of a horrendous miss and Stewart Downing found the side netting in the final seconds as England were restricted to a draw that kept them top of Group G on goal difference thanks only to Montenegro's failure to beat Bulgaria later in the evening.
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