4-2 after penalties: Spain in the semifinals – Switzerland out

After an own goal by Denis Zakaria, Switzerland appeared to be losing out in the quarter-finals against Spain. But the Confederates recovered, put away a dismissal – and tragically failed in the penalty shoot-out.

In the 4: 2 (1: 1, 0: 0, 3: 1) for the Spaniards, who only lived up to their role as favorites with overcooled, sometimes dispassionate-looking ball possession football, Jordi Alba paved the way in the 8th minute. Zakaria tried to block his shot, but deflected the ball so hard that Yann Sommer had no chance in goal and UEFA was convinced that this action should be considered an own goal.

Breakdown record expanded

The fact that Zakaria became the tenth own-goal shooter of this EURO this Friday (July 2nd, 21st) in St. Petersburg also has to do with this type of assessment: In terms of football, it would have been more correct to award Alba the goal than him clearly wanted to score the goal himself. Curious: Taken together in all of the finals in European Championship history, there have only been nine own goals so far.

The internal series of breakdowns between Zakaria and Sommer, which play together for Mönchengladbach in everyday Bundesliga life, has also become almost tragic.

Tragedy between summer and zakaria

On February 1 of the previous year, Zakaria, as a middleman in a three-way chain, ran under his own goalkeeper so unhappily that the ball slipped out of his hand when Borussia went 2-0 in Leipzig. Leipzig used that for the connection gate and got one point in the end.

Much worse and with consequences for Zakaria’s further career was the next crash between him and Sommer in the following March. While running out, the keeper injured the man in front of the knee so badly that Zakaria suffered cartilage damage, had to undergo surgery and was out for nine months. He didn’t really get in shape after that, and he only got his place back at this EURO because Xhaka picked up the second yellow card for complaining in the sensational coup against France.

Resistance tolerance as a great strength

But Switzerland has shown several times at this tournament that there is no other team apart from Denmark that can pull itself up against so much resistance. This ability is very closely related to the Xhaka type.

The game against Spain would have been a feast for him. The early 0-1 through an own goal, then the early injury to Breel Embolo, who had to be replaced by Ruben Vargas in the 23rd minute with problems in the squat. After these two setbacks, it was noticeable that Switzerland remained stable in the first round even without Xhaka, did not change anything in its order and orientation and Spain hardly allowed clear deals.

Shaqiri cheeky, Zakaria unlucky

In the game forward, however, a Xhaka was missing, which had shone with brilliant passes in depth, especially against France. Zakaria showed a good presence after the 0-1 in the duels, but like his neighbor Remo Freuler, he did too little for the offensive game. After all: In terms of leadership, Xherdan Shaqiri moved to the top of the Swiss team not only by taking over the captain’s armband.

His cheek and daring made Vladimir Petkovic’s team more self-confident, exemplary was his attempt in the 52nd minute to turn a corner directly – Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon survived the brief moment of shock. Spain made it much too comfortable in this phase and were very lucky that shortly afterwards a header from – of all people – Zakaria only missed the left post by centimeters.

Spain can also break down

However, Switzerland used these two scenes as encouragement and reaped the wages it deserved. When the two Spanish central defenders Pau Torres and Aymeric Laporte, who had already been overwhelmed in the entire tournament, made a slapstick double mistake in the 68th minute, Freuler pushed the ball in front of the goal across to Shaqiri, who slid in to make it 1-1.

The game then seemed to tip over to the side of the Swiss, who are now clearly stronger in two fights. But they weakened themselves. Freuler, who apparently wanted to set an example in terms of aggressiveness, rushed into a duel with Gerard Moreno in the no man’s land of midfield. The Swiss hit a lot of the ball, but also a little leg, and referee Michael Oliver was apparently so impressed by the dynamism of the boarding that he showed red (78th).

Not wrong enough for the VAR

The decision was at least controversial, but not so clearly wrong that the video assistant referee felt compelled to intervene. With Xhaka and Freuler, the entire central midfield was now missing, and after Embolo in the first round, Shaqiri had to go out with knee problems.

In the extension the Spaniards increased the number of strokes again significantly, had dangerous degrees through Gerard Moreno, Jordi Alba, Dani Olmo and again Moreno. Switzerland let itself be pushed further and further into its own half, had no more relief – but once again an outstanding summer.

Xhaka gives the final speech

The goalie saved his Switzerland with brilliant saves in the second half of extra time, during which Xhaka rushed onto the field. In the circle of the “Nati” he shouted another flaming motivational speech, which certainly also contributed to the fact that his colleagues made it to the penalty shootout despite a total of 43 minutes outnumbered.

There it looked good for the Swiss at first, because Sergio Busquets hit the post and Sommer parried against Rodri. But after the transformed attempt by Mario Gavranovic suddenly nothing worked: Fabian Schär, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Vargas all forgave, Mikel Oyarzabal finally ended the showdown with a cracker in the right corner.

Source: sportschau.de