Euro 2020: What next for the Swiss and Spanish?

Switzerland vs Spain

It’s Euro 2020 quarter-final weekend and it all starts in St Petersburg.

Both nations have reached this stage after thrilling last-16 successes on a Manic Monday.

Spain came from behind to send 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia out, despite being pegged back from 3-1 up to 3-3 before sealing a thrilling 5-3 success in extra-time.

Switzerland were even better. They trailed the world champions France 3-1, yet produced something very special in Bucharest – one of their finest achievements.

After such drama and excitement, we may be anticipating too much to expect more Euro 2020 highlights – but I wouldn’t rule it out.

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UEFA EURO 2020

Talking Points

If Switzerland are going to cause a second successive shock, they will have to do so without their captain. That’s because Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka won the man of the match against France but is now suspended.

The absence of Xhaka is a big loss for the side managed by Vladimir Petkovic who admitted his troops will need to reproduce the display that saw off France if they are to repeat the trick against Spain – European champions in 2008 and 2012.

On a brighter note, they have no injury concerns with Liverpool schemer Xherdan Shaqiri, Eintracht Frankfurt winger Steven Zuber, Benfica striker Haris Seferovic and goalkeeper Yann Sommer – who has also impressed me at club level – among their best players in the tournament so far.

They will surely employ a similar approach as they did against Les Bleus, aiming to give as little space as possible to the Spain midfield.

Going forward, they should pose a threat. Seferovic excelled in the air against France, meaning set pieces could unseat Spain, while Kevin Mbabu and Mario Gavranović offered something different from the bench, the former with his pace on the right, the latter providing his killer instinct in front of goal.

As for Spain, they could be without Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and Valencia left-back Jose Luis Gaya from the squad on Friday as both players are nursing injuries.

The spine of the team remains though with Man City centre back Aymeric Laporte, Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets and Juventus striker Alvaro Morata crucial to their chances and youngster Pedri and Paris Saint-Germain attacker Pablo Sarabia among the other talent at their disposal.

Morata recently revealed that he has received death threats and horrible messages about his children due to his poor form in front of goal for the national team, yet he could end up being a nation’s hero.

Can match favourites Spain dominate Switzerland and advance to Euro 2020 semi-final? — Spain’s Alvaro Morata scores their fourth goal during their match against Croatia

Boss Luis Enrique has continued to back Morata and has shown an unwavering support, even though the 28-year-old has been targeted – largely on social media but also via whistles and chants in the crowd – by Spain supporters.

Perhaps that will cease now that, after a slow start to the tournament, they are finding their groove. They have scored nine goals in their last two games (including extra-time), and the likes of Sarabia, Morata and Ferran Torres have impressed.

With both Portugal and France eliminated, La Roja will fancy their chances of going all the way now.

There’s no doubt Spain are favourites, but so were France.

History

In 22 meetings over virtually a century (since 1925), Switzerland have only defeated Spain once.

That came in the 2010 World Cup when a Gelson Fernandes goal gave them a 1-0 group stage success at the 2010 World Cup.

Of course, that did not deter Vicente Del Bosque and his side went onto become world champions to add to the European title they had clinched two years earlier (and retained in 2012).

After that, Switzerland failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

They have never met at a European Championships before, although they did meet twice last autumn in the Nations League.

Spain edged out the Swiss in Madrid, courtesy of a Mikel Oyarzabal goal, swiftly followed by a 1-1 draw in Basel where Gerard Moreno netted a late equaliser after Remo Freuler had fired the hosts in front.

The contest I remember was a 1994 World Cup last-16 clash in America which Spain won 3-0, courtesy of goals from Fernando Hierro, current boss Enrique and Aitor Begiristain.

As a teenager, I recall being angered by Hierro’s goal as a recent rule change allowed it to stand, despite a Spanish player being in a clear offside position.