Spanish goalkeeping hero Simon hails counterpart Sommer
Bilbao keeper was named Man of the Match for saving two penalties but says the Swiss keeper deserves the award
REUTERS
July 03, 2021
ST PETERSBURG:
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, who was named man of the match after saving two penalties in the 3-1 shootout win against Switzerland in their Euro 2020 quarter-final, said he would have given the award to opposite number Yann Sommer.
“I would have given Sommer the MVP,” Simon was quoted as saying by Spanish daily Marca after Spain booked a semi-final berth against taly at Wembley on Tuesday.
“Football has been fair, we are worthy winners. We must quickly rectify the mistakes and also keep our feet on the ground because a very difficult opponent is coming our way whoever it is,” he added.
What was said? He has such big balls, Koke said of his team-mate. “What happened to him against Croatia was unfortunate but what he did afterwards was incredible, with great tranquility. I hope it continues at this level.
He added: How can it not make us strong to overcome adversity? That unites more and, in the end, things work out. You can see from the outside that the group is united and we are all 100 per cent.
A feeling of euphoria
Simon explained his own views of the shootout, saying that he was, at least at first, frustrated it had come to that stage.
iAfrica Photo Credit: REUTERS/Kirill Kudryavtsev 12 hours ago 3 min read
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Spain suffered more penalty jitters but squeezed past Switzerland 3-1 in an error-strewn shootout to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals on Friday after their battling opponents clung to a 1-1 draw despite going down to ten men.
The three-times European champions’ keeper Unai Simon saved from Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schar while Ruben Vargas hammered his shot over the bar.
Spain’s Sergio Busquets and Rodri squandered their kicks but Gerard Moreno and Dani Olmo converted, leaving it for Mikel Oyarzabal to strike the decisive spot-kick in St Petersburg.
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)
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)