Friday, July 2nd, 2021
Swiss mistake in the penalty thriller
Spain tortures itself into the EM semifinals
Spain is the first team to reach the semi-finals of the European Football Championship. Coach Luis Enrique’s team only prevailed against Switzerland on penalties. Three Swiss people fail their nerves there. For Spain it is the first European Championship semi-final in nine years.
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) 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, the team of coach Vladimir Petkovic had to play because of Remo Freuler’s dismissal. The semi-final of a major tournament remains unmatched for the Swiss – despite goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s strong saves. The football fans can look forward to a thrilling duel between the Spaniards next Tuesday against the winner of the match between Belgium and Italy at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“The football was fair and we are the fair winners,” said Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón after the win. “It’s a very euphoric moment.” Four days ago Simón had made a serious mistake in the 5: 3 nV in the round of 16 against Croatia, this time he became one of the Spanish heroes with two penalty saves. “Just as you have to erase mistakes, you have to highlight success,” he said after receiving a special hug from coach Luis Enrique.
Zakaria fakes untenable
What bad luck for Zakaria, who was allowed to play Granit Xhaka for the yellow-banned 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 team had almost 75 percent possession.
It will never be mandatory
Spain’s goalkeeper hero Unai Simón lifts coach Luis Enrique into the air.
(Photo: imago images / Agencia EFE)
Another great chance after another corner: 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 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 goal (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 vice world champions Croatia in the round of 16.
Jordi Alba (r.) And Alvaro Morata celebrate their opening goal.
(Photo: picture alliance / dpa / Pool AP)
RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo should take care of that after the break. A good minute after the restart, he tried it for the first time from half left from twelve meters – but was offside. Luis Enrique followed suit, replacing Morata with second center forward Gerard Moreno. But a hit almost fell on the other side. Zakaria’s header just missed the Spaniard’s goal.
Nervous Enrique
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. For 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 compensate, which was initiated by a misunderstanding between Spain’s defenders Laporte and Pau Torres and Freuler used the template on 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 gross foul play and the exciting final phase began – without another goal. It went into extra time and into the exciting penalty shoot-out.
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