
Spain becomes the first team to book their place in the semifinals of the 2020 European championship after they outscored Switzerland 3-1 in the penalty shootout at the Gazprom Arena, St Petersburg.
Every picture tells a story…
Tough on Switzerland. Well played, Spain ๐๐๐#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/p1pXBSfUbr
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2021
Spain became dominant in the early 8th minute with Denis Zakaria’s own goal but captain Xherdan Shaqiri scored an equaliser at 68th minute to draw levels 1-1 before the game headed into extra time and 10-man Switzerland took Spaniards to penalties where Mikel Oyarzaba won the shootout and the Spanish national team advanced to the semifinals.
Switzerland XI: Sommer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodrรญguez, Widmer, Freuler, Zakaria, Zuber, Shaqiri, Embolo and Seferovic.
Spain XI: Unai Simรณn, Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Laporte, Jordi Alba, Koke, Busquets, Pedri, Ferrรกn Torres, Morata and Sarabia.
Switzerland had shocked everyone with their remarkable performance where they fought back to World Cup champions France from being down to 3-1 and beat them 5-4 on penalties. Today, they were without Granit Xhaka due to suspension who was Star of the Match vs France.
Jordi Alba shot from outside the box which was deflected off Denis Zakaria and confirmed as an own goal at the 8th minute of the first half that gave the lead to Luis Enrique’s side. But Shaqiri, who captained Vladimir Petkovic’s Switzerland on his 96th international appearance and has been directly involved in 51 goals after he slid the ball into the corner for the equaliser. It finished 1-1 after extra time, and Spain went through a victory on penalties.
Penalty shoot-out thread! ๐
๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐ช๐ธ#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/BSg6QTvw1G
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2021
Unai Simon, who made a mistake that cost them a goal four days ago vs Croatia was awarded as Star of the Match for his penalty shootout.
The comeback is always stronger than the setback.
Unai Simรณn ๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/gdC1QmTwmi
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2021
๐๐#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/E6YZrEIoYX
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2021
Grande Unai Simรณn!! ๐
— Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) July 2, 2021
Swiss star Roger Federer tweeted appreciating Switzerland’s efforts and wished Spain luck.
Danke ๐จ๐ญ, Itโs been an amazing Sommer ๐๐ผ guys,
thank you ๐๐ผ, great effort, canโt wait for the World Cup โฝ๏ธ. Great playing Spain ๐ช๐ธ and good luck.
Kopf hoch Jungs.
Traum gsi mit euch die EM— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 2, 2021
Spain, who have lost only one of their previous 22 international matches against Switzerland will play Italy, who eliminated Belgium to meet in the semifinals of Euro 2020.