D.This time the show of strength was not enough. World champion conqueror Switzerland was unhappy eliminated after own goal and red card in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship against Spain. Four days after the spectacular victory on penalties against France, the Confederates lost 1: 3 (1: 1, 1: 1, 0: 1) on Friday in St. Petersburg in the decision from the point.
Mikel Oyarzabal converted the decisive penalty for the Spaniards, Sergio Busquets had just put the first on the post. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón held against Fabian Schär and Manuel Akanji, the Swiss Yann Sommer against Rodri. Ruben Vargas missed.
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Denis Zakaria had scored the Spanish lead in the eighth minute with an own goal, the former Bayern professional Xherdan Shaqiri (68th) initially brought the Swiss back into the game. From the 77th minute onwards, coach Vladimir Petkovic’s team had to play outnumbered because Remo Freuler was sent off. The semi-final of a major tournament remains unmatched for the Swiss – despite the strong saves from goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
What bad luck for Zakaria, who was allowed to play Granit Xhaka for the yellow-barred captain. Spain took advantage of the first corner. Koke hit the ball from the right into the box, Aymeric Laporte’s head couldn’t get it. Luckily for Jordi Alba: The veteran, who had returned to the starting eleven, withdrew and Zakaria faked an untenable summer in goal for his Mönchengladbach club colleague.
Now the world champion conqueror was really challenged. But then that: after 20 minutes, Breel Embolo had to be treated. It didn’t go any further. The Gladbacher had to go, Ruben Vargas from FC Augsburg came in. The Swiss stuck to their tactics against the pass specialists from Spain. After 25 minutes, Luis Enrique’s side had almost 75 percent possession. And after another corner, another great chance: This time Alvaro Morata climbed up, Sommer had to stretch, but was there.
What the Swiss lacked was, above all, relief. The moments of surprise from Xhaka were sorely missed. The few hundred Swiss fans who had traveled to the northernmost European Championship city despite the delicate corona situation did not initially see a stormy Swiss spectacle after the nerve-wracking progress against France. A header – even after a corner – from Borussia Dortmund’s Manuel Akanji went clearly over the gate (34th).
But there was nothing compelling for the Spaniards either. They let the ball run as usual and deliberately. The move to the opposing goal was still missing after the two high-scoring appearances in the group stage with the 5: 0 against Slovakia and the 5: 3 against Croatia in the round of 16.
RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo should take care of that after the break. And a good minute after the restart, he tried it for the first time from the half-left from twelve meters – but stood on the sidelines. Luis Enrique followed suit, replacing Morata with the second center forward Gerard Moreno. But a hit almost fell on the other side. Zakaria’s header just missed the Spaniard’s goal.
Luis Enrique didn’t seem calm at all because of the narrow lead against a Swiss team that had already lost 3-1 against France. He jumped up from the bench, gestured, and pointed in the direction of his players. With good reason: In the 64th minute they allowed a top-class chance from top preparer Steven Zuber from Eintracht Frankfurt, but keeper Unai Simón saved the lead.
He was powerless to equalize, which was initiated by a misunderstanding between Spain’s defenders Laporte and Pau Torres and Freuler used the template for Shaqiri. The cheering of the former Bayern professional should also prove: Now even more is possible. Shortly afterwards, however, Freuler had to leave the field after a serious foul, and the exciting final phase began – without further goal. It went into extra time and into the exciting penalty shoot-out.
Inconsolable: Fabian Schaer misses his penalty
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Image: AFP
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source https://pledgetimes.com/out-on-penalties-swiss-show-of-strength-against-spain-not-rewarded/
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