Despite a good second half, La Roja lost at home against Switzerland (1-2). Spain will therefore play its place for the Final 4 against Portugal in 3 days.
TOPS
Sommer, the Swiss wall
The Swiss goalkeeper was simply heroic. If he didn’t have to do much in the first half, he had to stretch all his talent to keep the Nati alive in the second. The goalkeeper made a first save on a strike from Pedri and a few moments later, he won his face-to-face in front of the Spanish striker. Double parade for him (70th). On the action that follows, he continues with a high-class parade on a dry strike from Llorente (76th). He will even save his team from a Spanish equalizer at the very end of the match. The doorman throws himself on his right side to push back with his fingertips, with a reflex parade, a shot from Soler from the right of the surface (93rd). What a Sommer game! On Alba’s goal, he can’t do anything (54th).
The Impassable Akanji
He is undoubtedly the man of the match. The Swiss was imperial defensively and blocked most of the Spanish offensives. Always disciplined, he repeatedly reassured his family. And it is even he who puts the Nati on the right track. On a left corner rolled by Vargas, Akanji flies over the Spanish defense to prick his recovery with the head on the line of 6 meters from Unai Simon and deceive the goalkeeper of Roja. But the defender does not stop there and will offer an assist. Again on a corner, Akanji appears at the near post to deflect the ball with his heel towards 6 meters behind his back. Embolo is there to push into the goal from close range. This goal allows the Nati to win in Spain.
FLOPS
The sterile Spanish possession
After a quarter of an hour of play, Spain already had 75% possession of the ball but only had one shot on the counter and off target. La Roja certainly had his foot on the ball but took his time to build his actions which led to a certain false rhythm. Despite the opening of the Swiss score, Spain did not react and continued on the same dynamic. Luis Enrique’s men don’t get any chances. Spain returned to the locker room with 74% possession but trailed 0-1. In the second half, Spain is much sharper and manages to equalize. But the Swiss react quickly and Sommer will remain vigilant until the end. La Roja pays for a completely failed first half.
An apathetic Spanish defense from a corner
The two goals conceded by Spain came from a corner. Indeed, La Roja is not known for having strong players athletically and physically but at this level, it is still worrying. On the action of the first goal, Akanji is alone at the penalty spot. He places an uncrossed header which hits the ground first before ending up in the left corner of Unai Simon. One wonders where the Spanish defense was. Bis repeated in the second half. On a new corner, it is still Akanji who cuts the ball at the near post. He arrives in the center just in front of the goals. Embolo, surrounded by several defenders, still manages to push the leather into the back of the net. Two errors that offer victory to the Nati.