Hello and welcome to our Euro 2020 live blog for Friday evening’s quarter-final clash between Switzerland and Spain in Saint Petersburg. A fascinating game awaits between two sides who have improved as the tournament has gone on. In our live blog, we’ll bring you preview content, team news and then minute-by-minute updates from the match, too.
Switzerland vs Spain LIVE: 1-1
This is the start of our Switzerland vs Spain live blog, with updates following and with the most recent entries nearest the top. So, follow along with us as we enjoy this huge Euro 2020 quarter-final!
Minute 7: Dani Olmo’s deflected shot goes wide
Dani Olmo attempted a shot from just outside the box that took a wicked deflection off Gerard Moreno, leaving Sommer rooted to the ground, but fortunately for Switzerland it went wide.
Minute 6: Alba shoots from distance
Jordi Alba’s moving shot from outside the box had to be tipped over the bar by Sommer. Spain look the more likely team to score here in extra time.
Minute 2: Gerard Moreno misses a huge chance
Jordi Alba put in an early cross from the left that found Gerard Moreno in the six-yard box, but the Spain forward put his effort the wrong side of the post. It looked easier to score than miss. That was a huge chance for Spain.
Minute 1 (extra time): Switzerland kick things off again
Here we go for 30 minutes of extra time. Let’s see if either side can grab a winner, otherwise we will go to penalties.
FULL TIME: Switzerland 1-1 Spain
Jordi Alba’s deflected shot gave Spain the lead in the eighth minute, but Switzerland were able to grab an equaliser in the second half after a mix-up between Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres allowed Remo Freuler to find Xherdan Shaqiri, who stroked home from close range. Freuler was later shown a red card for a high tackle on Gerard Moreno, so Switzerland had to see out the remainder of the match with 10 men. Now, we have 30 minutes for extra time and, if a winner is not found, we will go to penalties.
Minute 90+3: Yellow card for Laporte
Laporte went over the back of Gavranovic and has been shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver.
Minute 90+1: Changes for both teams
Spain have switched Koke for Marcos Llorente in the middle of the park, while Switzerland have brought off Steven Zuber and replaced him with Christian Fassnacht.
Minute 90: No luck with Koke’s cross
Koke’s deep cross was deflected by Zakaria and went harmlessly into the hands of Sommer, much to Ferran’s frustration in the six-yard box.
Minute 88: Jordi Alba down with a knock
Jordi Alba was down on the ground after picking up a slight knock, but he is now up to his feet and is able to continue.
Minute 84: Gerard’s shot straight at Sommer
Pedri laid the ball off to Gerard Moreno on the edge of the box, but his shot went straight into the arms of Sommer.
Minute 81: Two changes for Switzerland
Switzerland have made two substitutions, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Haris Seferovic coming off in place of Djibril Sow and Mario Gavranovic, who came off the bench to score against France.
Minute 78: SWITZERLAND DOWN TO 10 MEN!
Remo Freuler has been shown a straight red for a high tackle on Gerard Moreno. Some may deem it harsh, but he gave the referee a decision to make. Switzerland will now have to see out the remainder of this match (and potentially extra time and penalties) with 10 men.
Minute 77: Spain come close again
Koke’s brilliant cross from the left almost saw Laporte and Pau Torres get on the end of it, but it landed between the two of them and Switzerland were able to get away with it.
Minute 75: Chance goes begging for Spain
Azpilicueta’s teasing cross along the six-yard box was not met by anyone, as Gerard Moreno wanted him to pull it back for him.
Minute 68: GOAL FOR SWITZERLAND!
A mix-up in the Spain defence saw Laporte control the ball into Pau Torres, which allowed Remo Freuler to capitalise and pass to Shaqiri, who stroked the ball past Unai Simon. Switzerland 1-1 Spain.
Minute 67: Widmer with first yellow of the game
Silvan Widmer’s studs landed on the boot of Sergio Busquets, which has seen the Switzerland right-back handed the first yellow card of the match.
Minute 64: Good save by Unai Simon
Vargas did really well for Switzerland on the left and played a pass between two Spain players in the box for Zuber to run on to, but Unai Simon was able to do enough to stop Switzerland from equalising.
Minute 59: Ferran’s volley blocked
Ferran controlled Koke’s free kick on his chest and acrobatically tried to volley the ball past Sommer, but Seferovic managed to get in the way as it went behind for a corner.
Minute 56: Zakaria so close to equalising
Ricardo Rodriguez’s deep corner from the left was met by Zakaria, whose guided header went inches wide of Unai Simon’s post. Switzerland continuing to pose problems from corners.
Minute 54: Gerard Moreno replaces Morata
Luis Enrique has made his second substitution of the game, with Gerard Moreno replacing Morata in a like-for-like switch.
Minute 50: Olmo causing problems
Dani Olmo has looked sharp since coming on and has just fired a cross into Koke, but the Spain midfielder’s header went miles over the bar.
Minute 46: Switzerland get us back underway
The second half has now begun. Spain will be determined to add to their first-half goal, while Switzerland will want to make one of their set pieces pay. There has been one change at the break: Pablo Sarabia has been withdrawn for Dani Olmo.
HALF TIME: Switzerland 0-1 Spain
Spain took the lead after just eight minutes, as Jordi Alba’s shot from distance was deflected by Denis Zakaria past his own goalkeeper. There have not been another other clear-cut chances, but Spain continue to look threatening while Switzerland are posing problems from set pieces.
Minute 42: Sarabia with a teasing ball
Sarabia’s cross from the left was put into a dangerous area at the near post, but Morata was unable to get on the end of it.
Minute 39: Widmer’s header goes over
Switzerland had another corner and this time almost made it pay, but Ferran was able to put enough pressure on Widmer, as the Switzerland defender’s header went over the bar. Set pieces could be Switzerland’s way back into this match.
Minute 35: Another corner for Switzerland
Spain were unable to get out and reassert control after Akanji’s miss, with Switzerland getting another corner. This time, though, the corner was overhit by Shaqiri.
Minute 34: Akanji’s header goes over
Akanji rose above Busquets from the corner but was unable to guide his header on target. That was a good chance for Switzerland.
Minute 33: Switzerland with a corner
Seferovic’s blocked shot allowed Widmer the chance to get a corner into the box, but Jordi Alba did enough to turn it behind for a corner
Minute 28: Sarabia down with a knock
Sarabia is down on the ground after Ricardo Rodriguez’s tackle, but it looks like he will be able to continue.
Minute 25: Free header for Azpilicueta
Cesar Azpilicueta outmuscled Akanji in the box and got a free header away, but it was straight into the arms of Sommer.
Minute 24: Elvedi clears dangerous cross
Ferran’s dangerous cross in the direction of Morata was well cleared by Elvedi, who could only turn it behind for a corner.
Minute 23: Enforced change for Switzerland
Ruben Vargas has had to come on for the injured Breel Embolo.
Minute 19: Unai Simon panics a little
Unai Simon’s sliced clearance put Spain under pressure, which has led to Switzerland winning a corner after some good pressure by Breel Embolo, who is now on the ground having his left leg stretched out.
Minute 17: Koke’s free kick… goes over!
Koke’s guided effort went just over Sommer’s goal, so the Switzerland goalkeeper had no need to worry.
Minute 16: Spain free kick in a dangerous area
Morata has been brought down by Widmer a few yards outside the box. A dangerous position for La Roja.
Minute 14: All Spain so far
Spain’s goal has given the players a further lift, as they are now dominating proceedings. Switzerland need to put that goal behind them, and the good thing for them is that there is still a long way to go in the match.
Minute 8: GOAL FOR SPAIN!
Denis Zakaria looked to block Jordi Alba’s shot from outside the box after Koke’s corner, but he ended up diverting it past goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Switzerland 0-1 Spain.
Minute 7: Spain have the first corner of the game
Ferran Torres ran at Ricardo Rodriguez down the right wing and has forced the Switzerland into giving away a corner, the first of the game.
Minute 5: Spain settling things down
Spain have got their foot on the ball and are moving it around with relative ease.
Minute 2: Shaqiri has the game’s first shot
Switzerland pushed forward with some purpose and Shaqiri attempted a shot from distance that was blocked by Pau Torres, but it is a sign of Switzerland’s intentions early on here.
Minute 1: Spain get us underway!
Here we go! Stay with us for minute-by-minute updates from Switzerland vs Spain in Saint Petersburg.
17:50 CEST: Spain’s attacking threats
Alvaro Morata has been widely criticised for his lack of goals at Euro 2020, despite everything else he offers Spain up top, but the two players that have been involved in the most goals for La Roja so far are Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres, who have contributed three goals apiece across goals and assists.
17:40 CEST: Spain need to watch Zuber
Steven Zuber may not be a household name, but the Switzerland left wing-back has been in fine form at Euro 2020, as shown by the fact that he has provided four assists so far – more than any other player.
17:30 CEST: Unai Simon’s… training
Unai Simon made a horrible mistake against Croatia that saw Spain concede the first goal of the game, so he has had some specific training ahead of this evening’s fixture against Switzerland.
Switzerland’s starting XI: Zakaria in for Xhaka
Vladimir Petkovic has settled on his XI, with Denis Zakaria coming in for Granit Xhaka the only change to the side that defeated France.
Switzerland’s XI: Yann Sommer, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricado Rodriguez, Silvan Widmer, Remo Freuler, Denis Zakaria, Steven Zuber, Xherdan Shaqiri, Haris Seferovic, Breel Embolo.
Spain’s starting XI: Pau and Alba return
Luis Enrique’s starting XI for the quarter-final sees a couple of changes from the side that beat Croatia, as Pau Torres replaces Eric Garcia and Jordi Alba takes his left-back role in place of Jose Luis Gaya.
