Euro 2020 – Unai Simon the hero as Spain edge Switzerland on penalties to reach semi-finals

Unai Simon was the hero as he made two saves in the shoot-out to send Spain through to the semi-finals of the European Championships.

Luis Enrique’s men made a dream start when Jordi Alba’s strike from long range deflected off Denis Zakaria, who replaced the suspended Granit Xhaka in the side, and wrongfooted Yann Sommer after eight minutes.

And Switzerland’s task was made harder when Breel Embolo went off midway in the first half with a suspected hamstring injury.

Vladimir Petković’s side had a string of chances from corners with Manuel Akanji heading over and Zakaria nodding it inches wide after the break.

And they equalised after a mix-up between Pau Torres and Aymeric Laporte led to Xherdan Shaqiri netting from close range.

The game took another twist when Remo Freuler was shown a straight red for hacking down Gerard Moreno in the closing stages.

But the Spanish were unable to capitalise on their man advantage with Moreno spurning three opportunities in extra time including missing the target from around six yards out.

In the resulting shoot-out Sergio Busquets missed first for Spain, making it six in a row, before Dani Olmo scored his team’s second to level it up before Simon saved Fabian Schar’s effort to make it one miss each.

Sommer and Simon each made another save before the tide turned with Moreno sending a thumping effort into the top corner and then Ruben Vargas skied his effort.

That left it down to Mikel Oyarzabal, who made no mistake and sent his country through to the semis against either Belgium or Italy.

TALKING POINT

Was it a red card?

Referee Michael Oliver wasted no time in dishing out a card to Freuler and VAR backed his decision. It looked like the correct decision given how high his foot was but the decision certainly divided opinion among current and ex-players on social media.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Yann Sommer (Switzerland). The hero in the penalty shootout against France was on top form again, with a string of impressive saves after his side were reduced to ten men. He kept out Rodri’s penalty in the shootout and was unfortunate to be on the losing side again.

PLAYER RATINGS

SWITZERLAND: Sommer 9, Widmer 8, Elvedi 9, Akanji 7, Zakaria 5, Embolo n/a, Freuler 5, Seferovic 4, Rodriguez 8, Zuber 6, Shaqiri 9. Subs: Vargas 6, Sow 5, Gavranovic 6, Fassnacht n/a, Mbabu n/a, Schar n/a.

SPAIN: Unai Simon 8, Azpilicueta 6, P Torres 5, Laporte 5, Alba 7, Busquets 7, Koke 5, Sarabia 5, F Torres 6, Pedri 7, Morata 5. Subs: Olmo 7, Moreno 4, Llorente 5, Oyarzabal n/, Alcantara n/a.

KEY MOMENTS

8′ – GOAL FOR SPAIN! Rodriguez tackles Torres and its a corner. The delivery falls to Alba outside the box who lashes it towards goal, it hits Zakaria’s outstretched leg and wrongfoots the keeper.

23′ – INJURY: Big blow for the Swiss, Embolo cannot continue and is replaced by Ruben Vargas.

68′ – GOAL FOR THE SWISS! Shaqiri strokes it into the bottom corner from Freuler’s pass after a mistake from the Spanish defence.

77′ – STRAIGHT RED! Freuler is off hacking down Moreno, his feet were high.

92′ -WHAT A CHANCE! Moreno misses a tap in from six yards, he puts it wide from Alba’s first time low cross.

KEY STAT

Denis Zakaria’s own goal is the tenth at Euro 2020, one more than were scored at each of the previous 15 editions of the European Championships combined.