Switzerland 1-1 (1-3 on pens.) Spain
The start of Euro 2020 quarter-final weekend and excitement abounded St Petersburg.
What was next for Switzerland and Spain, we all asked.
This was after a Manic Monday, one in which Spain edged out 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in an eight-goal thriller after extra-time.
Switzerland, of course, were even better. They trailed the world champions France 3-1, yet produced something very special in Bucharest – one of their finest achievements.
So, would more Euro 2020 highlights follow? Well, they did, but not for the right reasons.
Highlights of the game
That’s because an exciting contest was, quite frankly, marred by a laughable decision to send off Switzerland’s Remo Freuler 13 minutes from time.
Sure, the midfielder was slightly late reaching the ball in a challenge with Gerard Moreno but reach the ball he did and won it fairly too.
The surprised look on his face was justified as he protested his innocence and, even after a VAR check, the red card brandished by referee Michael Oliver somehow stood.
The player was naturally crestfallen as replays showed the tackle had not endangered his opponent in any way (despite what some pundits may believe).
If the laws of the game deem challenges like this – a challenge the player had to make – a red card offence, then it really is a sad state of affairs.
From that moment, my impartiality went out of the window and I was rooting for Vladimir Petkovic and his men as they faced a backs-to-the-wall challenge.
Prior to kick-off, there had been just one enforced change for Petkovic with suspended captain Granit Xhaka replaced by Denis Zakaria.
There were two changes to the Spain side, both in defence, as Pau Torres was drafted into the team in favour of Eric Garcia and Jordi Alba returned at left-back for Jose Gaya.
The contest began as expected with Spain patient in possession and Switzerland looking to counter-attack but, thanks to a big deflection, Spain led inside eight minutes as Alba’s long-range strike was diverted past his own keeper by Zakaria.
Striker Álvaro Morata almost made it two midway through the half but his header was clutched under his own crossbar by Yann Sommer.
Manuel Akanji headed over following a Switzerland corner as chances remained few but they stepped up their game in the second period.
Zakaria planted a header wide, Steven Zuber saw his shot pushed behind by goalkeeper Unai Simón and then, midway through the second half, Freuler picked up a loose pass and squared for Xherdan Shaqiri to sweep in the equaliser.
He had said everything was possible before kick-off and suddenly his words seemed to carry weight.
Oliver’s poor decision to send off Freuler realistically ended that opportunity – certainly from open play – yet the Swiss dug in with 10 men to somehow hold out in extra-time.
Moreno hit the ball wide when he should have scored before the brilliant Sommer denied the same player from point-blank range, kept out a curling Mikel Oyarzabal strike and stopped Dani Olmo again, while Ricardo Rodriguez made a brilliant block.
Alas, it still wasn’t enough.
After playing for more than 40 minutes with 10 men, it was gut-wrenching for the Swiss to miss out in the resulting penalty shoot-out,
Switzerland’s 2018 World Cup campaign ended at the Saint Petersburg Stadium and their Euro 2020 campaign has ended here also.
But while Spain were the better side over 120 minutes and take the prize of a semi-final spot, 10-man Switzerland deserve the plaudits.
Key statistics
Sergio Busquets (126 matches) has equalled Andoni Zubizarreta to be the fifth player to have made the most appearances for the Spanish national team after Sergio Ramos (180), Iker Casillas (167), Xavi Hernández (133) & Andrés Iniesta (131).
Switzerland have never won a European Championships match when conceding first (drawn three, lost seven).
This was Switzerland’s fourth quarter-final appearance in a major tournament and their first at the European Championships. They had lost their previous three such games – 3-2 v Czechoslovakia (1934), 2-0 v Hungary (1938) and 7-5 v Austria (1954).
Excluding own goals, Alba is the seventh different Spanish player to score at Euro 2020. In European Championship history, only Germany in 2012 have had more different scorers at a single edition (eight).
Pedri (18 years, 219 days) is only the second European player in major tournament history to start as many as five matches at the age of 18 or below – after Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside who started five times when aged 17 at the 1982 World Cup.
This was the first meeting between Switzerland and Spain at the European Championship.
What’s next?
Tuesday night (July 6) at Wembley now for Spain against Belgium or Italy.
Make sure you study the SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds ahead of that one!
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