Switzerland v Spain | Euro 2020 Quarter Final

[MCFC1993]

Switzerland v Spain

Friday 2nd July 2021

Kicks off at 17:00 (BST) at the Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg, Russia. Capacity at 50%, approximately 34,000.

Coverage begins at 16:15 (BST) on ITV 1, no other information so far.

Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)

The winner will play Belgium or Italy in the Semi-Final


SWITZERLAND
Switzerland probably had the best performance of the Last 16, battling back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the World Champions on penalties. No longer a team that just shows up to tournaments they’ve finally gone and done something. They have every chance of making the Semi-Final if they play like they did against France. Granit Xhaka was excellent, different player from the Arsenal version, Seferovic finally showed up too with 2 thumping headers.

Form at Euro 2020:
Wales 1-1 Switzerland
Italy 3-0 Switzerland
Switzerland 3-1 Turkey
France 3-3 (p) Switzerland

Euro 2020 goal scorers:
Haris Seferovic – 3
Xherdan Shaqiri – 2
Breel Embolo – 1
Mario Gavranovic – 1


SPAIN
They were Jekyll and Hyde in that Last 16 match, awful start with a mad own goal, then brilliant to go 3-1 up, then Luis Enrique lost his head, made a load of subs and nearly cost them a game. Fortunately, they managed to battle back in extra time. Ferran Torres has been excellent for Spain and looks their most threatening player. They’ve now scored 11 goals in the tournament, so expect goals in this game.

Form at Euro 2020:
Spain 0-0 Sweden
Spain 1-1 Poland
Slovakia 0-5 Spain
Croatia 3-5 Spain

Euro 2020 goal scorers:
Ferran Torres – 2
Pablo Sarabia – 2
Own goal – 2
Alvaro Morata – 1
Aymeric Laporte – 1
Cesar Azpilacueta – 1
Alvaro Morata – 1
Mikel Oyarzabal - 1

 

[KnaresboroughBlue]

Can't see anything other than a win for Spain. They're a bit flaky defensively but should be able to score enough to go through.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

I could see this going either way. If Spain defend like they did against Croatia then the Swiss could hurt them, especially with balls into the box. That said, if Spain stop being incredibly profligate then they could win quite comfortably given the chances they've been creating.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Can't see anything other than a win for Spain. They're a bit flaky defensively but should be able to score enough to go through.

Perversely, I think it rests on whether Garcia or Torres start. If it’s Garcia, then Laporte plays on the left and they have a better balance.

 

[mat]

Should be a Spain win. Then again I thought the same about France.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Perversely, I think it rests on whether Garcia or Torres start. If it’s Garcia, then Laporte plays on the left and they have a better balance.

Incredible to think that a Spanish team will improve if Garcia is playing

 

[bluemoon32]

I think Spain will win but the Swiss will cause their poor defence a few problems

 

[Magicpole]

Hard to call, you naturally think Spain should go through. That kind of thinking led France onto the plane home so the Swiss shouldn't he underestimated and Spain aren't the Spain of old.

9.8 to Spain after extra time.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Busquets ahead of Rodri again.Great to see Torres retain his place,confidence will be soaring.

 

[KentBlue]

Watching the games themselves is great, even if it’s a poor match it’s better than no football, but I get so fucking irritated by the build-up with those same old ‘pundits’ rolling out the tired old clichès they’ve been using for decades. They are supposed to be giving us an insight as to what is happening, an experts view of how the game is going: instead they just waffle on offering absolutely fuck all by way of insight.