By Steve Douglas13 hours ago
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Spain s dreadful record from the penalty spot didn t stop the team from reaching the European Championship semifinals.
Thankfully for the Spanish, Switzerland fared worse in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Mikel Oyarzabal converted the decisive spot kick to clinch a 3-1 shootout victory for Spain, which is two wins away from emulating the country s golden generation that captured European titles in 2008 and 2012.
The Spanish celebrations were of relief as much as joy, with players and members of the coaching staff sprinting onto the field inside Saint Petersburg Stadium and jumping on Oyarzabal. Many of the Swiss players fell to their knees inside the center circle.
Ruben Vargas also missed for Switzerland, blazing over, teeing up Mikel Oyarzabal to score the winning penalty after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Football s been just today; we were worthy winners, Athletic Bilbao stopper Simon told reporters after the game. Now, just like we had to erase the memory of that mistake in the last match, it s time to quickly forget this win because we face a tough rival in the next round.
He added: We have to go into the semifinal fresh, confident and with our heads high. We have to win the Euros now.
Denis Zakaria deflected home Jordi Alba s shot to give Spain an early lead, but Switzerland levelled after the break through Xherdan Shaqiri s third goal of the tournament following a defensive mix up.
Stat attack
15 – Including the qualifying rounds, Italy have won each of their last 15 European Championship matches – a new competition record. Belgium themselves had won 14 consecutive matches before today’s defeat. Goliath. #EURO2020pic.twitter.com/JOqngYjNIC
Italy’s victory over Belgium extended their unbeaten run to 32 games dating back to a 1-0 Nations League defeat by Portugal in September 2018. In the process, the Azzurri also stretched their winning sequence in European Championship qualifiers and finals matches to a record 15.
Paying the penalty
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal scores the winning penalty against Switzerland to book a place in the Euro 2020 semi-finals (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP/PA)
Switzerland exit Euro with heads high, says manager
Swiss beat France on penalties in the round of 16 but eliminated by Spain on penalty kicks in the quarter-finals
REUTERS
July 03, 2021
ST PETERSBURG:
Swiss manager Vladimir Petkovic said his team could leave the European Championship with their heads high after being eliminated by Spain on penalty kicks in the quarter-finals on Friday in St. Petersburg.
An equaliser by captain Xherdan Shaqiri in the second half cancelled an early own goal and sent the teams to overtime, but two of the Swiss penalty kicks were stopped and one missed the target. Switzerland beat France on penalties in the round of 16.
03 Jul 2021 - 8:49
Reuters
Italy set up a Euro 2020 semi-final clash against Spain after first half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne led the Azzurri to a 2-1 win over Belgium yesterday in an entertaining encounter in which both sides created a number of chances.
Italy who will face the Spaniards on Tuesday in London opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Barella picked up the ball, forced his way past defenders in the area and fired home.
Insigne doubled the lead in the 44th minute after collecting the ball on the left and skipping beyond a defender before unleashing a long-range shot that flew past Thibaut Courtois.