Simon stars as Spain beat Switzerland on penalties to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals. Football News – Times of India Times

St. Petersburg: goalkeeper Unai Simon was a hero Spain last 10-man Switzerland 3-1 on penalties on Friday to set up access euro 2020 Semifinals.
After a 1–1 draw in St Petersburg in which the Swiss played 43 minutes, Simon made two saves in the shoot-out to help keep Spain’s bid alive for a record fourth European crown.
as it happened
It was heartbreaking for Switzerland, who were bidding to reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in their history.

When Deniso led Spain early zakaria put their own nets through, but Switzerland was the better side in the long run and Xherdan shakiri, standing as captain of the suspended Granit Zaka, equalized in the 68th minute.
The Swiss were reduced to 10 men with 13 minutes remaining, however, when midfielder Remo Freiler was controversially dismissed for a tackle from Gerard Moreno.

Switzerland goalkeeper Yan Sommer, the hero of the penalty shoot-out victory over world champions France in the last 16, made a fine save in extra time.
But Simon saved from Fabian Scheer and Manuel Akanji, while Rubén Vargas succumbed to a tense final as the Spaniards finished with Mikel. oarzabali Dodge the house with the winning spot-kick.

Luis Enrique’s men will face either Belgium or Italy, who will meet at Wembley on Tuesday in Munich later on Friday.
After scoring 10 goals in their last two matches, it was a return to the kind of prolific performance that Spain drew in their first two group games against Sweden and Poland.
But the 2008 and 2012 winners had made a great start in this quarter-final, taking the lead in lucky circumstances in just the eighth minute.

A corner was cleared only as Jordi Alba, whose left-footed volley was diverted by Switzerland midfielder Zacharias behind Sommer, only playing in place of Zaka.
It was Euro 2020’s own 10th target, higher than the other 15 editions combined.
alvaro morata Going too close to Sommer when unmarked ruined an excellent opportunity, but then Switzerland began to rise in the game.
Sylvan Widmar led the goal from a corner before Steven Zuber thought he had just won a penalty to be flagged.
Spain coach luis enrique Dani Olmo sent on for Pablo Sarabia at half time and the RB Leipzig man threatened within 60 seconds, seeing his low volley well by Sommer.
Zakaria came close to making up for his earlier goal when his header was wide enough.
Switzerland had an even better chance for a Leveller in the 64th minute, as Shaqiri launched a quick counter-attack, which ended with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon trying to keep Zuber’s stabbing attempt at his near post. gave good response to
But the underdog equalized four minutes later, as Freuler caught a loose ball after a mix-up in the Spanish defense and squared off to slot Shaqiri into the far corner and score his third goal of the tournament.
The turn of the game changed in the 77th minute, however, when referee Michael Oliver gave Frauer his marching orders for a sliding challenge on Spanish substitute Moreno.
Switzerland managed to keep Spain at bay relatively easily by the end of normal time, but in the third minute of the extra half-hour, Moreno should have put Spain back in front, only to miss Alba’s cross wide from close.
Switzerland was probably lucky not to have sent another man in sooner rather than later, when Widmar escaped with a second yellow card for a freak foul on Olmo.
Moreno somehow missed another golden opportunity, denied at point-blank range by Sommer, before a Borussia Moenchengladbach stopper made an excellent diving save from Oyarzabal.
Sommer made eight saves in extra time alone, but his one in the shoot-out from Rodri was not enough, despite Sergio Busquets hitting the post as Switzerland missed three of their four penalties.