Whaleshares Logo

Spain Won On Penalties.

olawaliumPosted for Everyone to comment on, 3 years ago5 min read

images - 2021-07-03T132707.824.jpeg
[Source]


Switzerland and Spain started the Quarter Finals round and what a game we had on our hands. It was purely entertaining with so much uncertainties hanging in the air. You would have thought Switzerland would edge it with how things turned out during the penalty shoot out and also, when Switzerland got their red card, you would have tipped Spain to win it in the extra time but the Swiss held on but still missed out.

Spain got ahead to a quick start when Ferran Torres won the first corner kick of the game. A lovely delivery was sent into the box and the rebound fell to Jordi Alba who hit a half volley shot that was deflected into the back of the net by the leg of Zakaria. That was Spain's 3 own goal advantage in this Euro and the 10th own goal so far in the tournament.

In the 17th minute, Koke came close with a lovely freekick on the edge of the box but his effort missed by a margin. Azpilicueta also had a decent header in the 25th minute with another corner kick delivery but he headed straight at the goalkeeper. The Swiss also had a delivery into the box in the 34th minute that was met by the head of Akanji. Despite it being a perfect deliver, he was unable to get his angle right and he headed over.

Spain wasted a wonderful chance when Morata picked out Olmo inside the box and with haste, he struck his tame effort that didn't trouble the goalkeeper in any way.

In the 47th minute, Jordi Alba had to produce a header to steer the ball for a corner kick after Zuber did so well to pick out Widmer at the far post. It wasn't really the day for Koke as he had another excellent delivery into the box by Olmo but his header wasn't well positioned.

Shaqiri was going for goal in the 51st minute when he expertly took a corner kick but he was unable to beat the goalkeeper as he got the side of the net instead. Zakaria almost made up for his earlier own goal when Rodriguez's lovely corner kick delivery found him and he missed by just a margin as the goalkeeper was left helpless. He headed it back across the goal and it was very close.

Ferran Torres was also denied an acrobatic effort inside the box when he was found. He brilliantly chested the ball and hit it half way in the air but it was deflected for a corner kick. The Swiss on the other end almost got their equalizer when Zuber produced absolutely and got a return pass right inside the box only to be denied by the awareness of Simon Unai in goal.

Switzerland got their equalizer in the 68th minute when Spain lost the ball in their own half and Freuler was sent clear on goal. Defensive blunder from both Pau Torres and Laporte sent the ball back to the path of Freuler and he passed to Shaqiri who expertly guided the ball into the back of the net. In the 77th minute, Freuler got his marching orders for his challenge on Gerard Moreno to reduce the Swiss down to 10 men.

Nothing separated the two sides after 90 minutes and they went for another 30 minutes of extra time. Moreno should have given his side the lead just 2 minutes into the extra time when Jordi Alba found him in the box but with the pressure from Akanji, he was unable to direct his shot better and it went wide. 3 minutes after, Jordi Alba tried to strike the ball from where he got lucky earlier in the game but this time the goalkeeper did the saving by pushing the lovely strike over the bar.

Moreno pounced on a loose ball inside the box but it took the excellent denial from Sommer to deny the Spaniard. The goalkeeper was really in form and up to the task. Nothing could separate the two sides and penalties came calling.

Sergio Busquet hit the upright with his first penalty kick despite sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Schar also missed his penalty for the Swiss as Simon Unai saved his low drive shot. Vargas lost his chance too as he sent the ball over the bar for the Swiss while Oyarzabal had the honours of sending Spain to the Semi Final after converting his own spotkick to send the goalkeeper the wrong way. Spain won 3-1 on penalties.


Thank you for your time.


My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.

Still me,

My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.

Sign Up to join this conversation, or to start a topic of your own.
Your opinion is celebrated and welcomed, not banned or censored!