published : 3 Jul 2021 at 02:45 Spain players celebrate beating Switzerland on penalties in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals
PARIS: Spain needed penalties to get the better of Switzerland and advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 on Friday, setting up a clash against Belgium or Italy who were playing each other later in Munich.
European champions in 2008 and 2012, Spain beat Switzerland 3-1 on penalties after their quarter-final tie in Saint Petersburg finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the winning kick.
Earlier Luis Enrique s side appeared to be coasting as Jordi Alba s shot deflected in off Denis Zakaria for an own goal to put Spain ahead in the eighth minute.
Switzerland vs Spain: Team news & key stats
Switzerland will be without Granit Xhaka who is suspended following his yellow card during the victory over France.
Spain have no injury concerns ahead of the clash, with Luis Enrique able to call upon all 24 members of his squad.
Key stats:
This is the first meeting between Switzerland and Spain at the European Championship. Their three previous meetings in a major tournament came in the 1966, 1994 and 2010 World Cups, with Spain winning the first two and Switzerland triumphing last time out.
Spain have become the first team in European Championship history to score 5+ goals in consecutive games. They hadn’t scored more than four goals in any of their first 42 matches in the competition.
Swiss eye Spain scalp at Euro 2020 as Belgium sweat on De Bruyne, Hazard
Issued on:
02/07/2021 - 06:02 Spain s Sergio Busquets and David De Gea at training in Saint Petersburg on Thursday Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV AFP 4 min
Paris (AFP)
Switzerland are hoping to take another major scalp at Euro 2020 when they face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday while Belgium sweat over the fitness of star duo Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne for their heavyweight clash with Italy in Munich.
The Swiss qualified for their first major tournament quarter-final since 1954 with a stunning win on penalties over reigning world champions France in Bucharest on Monday, and Vladimir Petkovic s side are now hoping to get the better of another European powerhouse in Spain.
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It’s the Euro quarterfinals!
Spain vs Switzerland at 12PM EST / 6PM CET. Location: Krestovsky Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia
After causing the biggest upset of the tournament by eliminating Euro 2020 favorites France in the round of 16, Switzerland will try to take another prized scalp when they face Spain in Saint Petersburg in the quarter finals.https://t.co/m6JnacmHX3 AS English (@English AS) July 1, 2021
Swiss eye Spain scalp as Belgium sweat on De Bruyne, Hazard tribune.com.pk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tribune.com.pk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.