What does it matter if Spain qualified for the semi-finals first, their first at the Euro since 2012, by beating Switzerland on penalties (1-1 ap, 3-1 tab), Friday 2 July. Once again, goalkeeper Yann Sommer was the hero of a Swiss team reduced to ten against eleven after the exclusion of Freuler for a tackle on Moreno. On July 6, at Wembley, La Roja will be opposed to Italy, winner in the evening of Belgium in Munich.
If the victory of the Spaniards is well deserved throughout the meeting (28 shots to 8), the “Nati”, falling from France in the eighth, put up fierce resistance. In front of some 20,000 spectators at Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg, Spain quickly opened the scoring (8e) with a goal against his own side of Swiss Denis Zakaria, who deflected a shot from Jordi Alba in his net. Zakaria had been established in place of the suspended captain Granit Xhaka.
While the Roja monopolized the ball, the Nati, battered, replied only with timid counter-attacks. Gradually, the game was balanced, but without either of the two teams being really dangerous when approaching the opposing goal. Taking advantage of a clear drop in the pace of the Spaniards in the second half, Vladimir Petkovic’s men have logically gained confidence over the minutes.
And, following a huge defensive disagreement between Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres, Remo Freuler found Xherdan Shaqiri, whose cross strike cheated Unai Simon (1-1, 68e). Switzerland, however, was to experience another twist of fate in the 77e minute with the exclusion – logical – of Freuler for a nasty fault on Gerard Moreno.
The Swiss reduced to ten
Outnumbered, the Nati and its heroic defense managed to preserve the draw until the end of regulation time, but dangerous situations multiplied in front of the goal of a Yann Sommer in a state of grace, author of a rescue in disaster in front of Moreno (101e) and several other decisive interventions. Overwhelmed on all sides, the Nati resisted again and again thanks to its keeper. The Spaniards’ debauchery of attacks was ultimately in vain, and the two teams had to decide on penalties.
The session smiled on the Spaniards, despite a failed first shot from Busquets. The Swiss Schär, Akanji and Vargas missed their attempt, when Oyarzabal succeeded, sending Spain to the semi-finals, who found the last continental four nine years after their coronation at Euro 2012, the third act of a sumptuous treble Euro-Mondial-Euro between 2008 and 2012.