Thank you for tuning into this nervy encounter, where Spain eventually won 3-1 on penalties. (1-1 AET) Until then, take care and stay safe.
Spain will take on either Belgium or Italy in the semi-finals, making for another cracker of a contest. Catch all the action right here on Sportskeeda, as the two heavyweights take on each other in about 10 minutes.
Spain were the better side on the day, although they were expected to bury the game against a 10-man Swiss side. A host of chances missed in extra-time added pressure, but they prevailed courtesy of converted kicks from Gerard Moreno, Mikel Oyarzabal and Daniel Olmo. Mario Gavranovic was the only one to score for Switzerland.
The Swiss can hold their heads high, after having come so far in the tournament. Today, they were without their skipper. Later, Breel Embolo was a huge miss for them. They played for over 40 minutes with 10 men after Remo Freuler was given his marching orders.
Spain have won it, they are the first team to enter the last four; this is their third entry in the last four Euros.
AND HE DOES! SPAIN WIN 3-1, AND ARE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS OF EURO 2020.
Spain - score it and win it!
Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad is on it. He could send Spain to the semis!
Here's Vargas. Spain are leading 2-1.
Oh my word, this is a hat-trick of misses! It whistles over the bar!
Next up; Gerard Moreno.
He can score this time, goes high and wide to the top corner!
Manuel Akanji is at it for Switzerland!
IT'S ANOTHER SAVE! WHAT IS HAPPENING? He misses!
It's Rodri for Spain!
That walk was unnatural, and Sommer dives to the right side to save it!
It's Fabian Schar for the Swiss.
He jogs to the ball and waits for Simon's movement. His kick is to the left-side of the goal, Simon dives and saves it! 1-1!
Now it's Dani Olmo for Spain. Can he open their account?
He finds the target in sumptuous fashion, lifting the ball with power to the top corner.
Switzerland deploy Gavranovic first up, just as they did against France. He scores!
Spain how now missed six penalties in a row.
BUSQUETS HITS THE POST!
Penalties it is, Spain are up first. Sergio Buasquets.
121' WHAT A CHANCE FOR RODRI!
This has summed up Spain's extra time - another big chance missed. Rodri is at the end of a cross from the right, but his header is soft and well over the bar.
120' Surely, this is going to penalties.
118' Pedri is off for Rodri. The 18-year-old lasted almost 120 minutes, and perhaps, Rodri could be one of those taking the penalties for Spain.
115' SOMMER GATHERS AGAIN!
This time, it's a near post flick from Busquets, waiting for someone to head it in. But Sommer collects the ball comfortably.
113' Thiago Alcantara is in to add gloss to the Spanish XI; he is on for Pau Torres.
111' Huge chance for Spain, who are probing again and again!
Alba times his run well, cuts it back for Olmo, but the latter's effort is straight at Sommer.
108' HUGE BLOCK!
That is some block from Ricardo Rodriguez, after Llorente receives the ball at the edge of the box and steers it goalward.
106' Gavranovic brings a ball down, lays it off for Mbabu on the run. The wing-back looks for a foul down the right-hand side but doesn't get one.
Spain are set to start the second-half of extra-time.
Olmo, Moreno and Alba have come very close to scoring for Spain. In fact, Moreno could have even scored a hat-trick on another day. We are heading into a half-time break in extra time.
104' What a save! Again!
Switzerland are relying on Sommer, while Spain are missing chance after chance after chance! This time it's Dani Olmo, squaring it to Oyarzabal. The latter cuts inside and tests the gloves to Sommer, who is equal to it with another fingertip save.
103' Another save from Sommer! Moreno is at it again, and so is Sommer. He tips it wide off his far post to prevent an imminent second.
101' Double substitution for Switzerland, with Fabian Schar and Kevin Mbabu are on, for Denis Zakaria and Silvan Widmer respectively.
100' WHAT A SAVE BY YANN SOMMER!
From three yards out, Moreno gets on the end of some wrestling in the box. He volleys it hard but straight at Sommer, who reacts brilliantly.
99' Gerard Moreno comes close again!
Off a corner this time, he rises higher than anyone else but fails to make the right contact with the ball.
97' Olmo breaks away, beats Elvedi's challenge and drills goalward. It took a huge deflection off Torres, but luckily deflects wide from Switzerland's point of view!
96' CHANCE FOR SPAIN!
Alba's swerving effort is tipped over the bar by Sommer. The Spanish left-back has been at the heart of all the attacks in these five minutes or so.
94' Alba, once again, is there on the left side with his crosses. This time it's aimed towards Pedri, but Widmer intercepts.
92' HOW HAS HE MISSED THAT!
After a brilliant play down the left, Alba runs into space on the overlap. His first-time cross is a classic Jordi Alba delivery, but Moreno misses from three yards.
91' Gavranovic kicks the ball off, but Spain get into possession and shape immediately. They are favourites to find the back of the net now.
There we are, with extra-time underway. Can either side find a second goal?
End of normal time: Switzerland 1-1 Spain.
We are heading to extra time!
Yellow card for Aymeric Laporte in the second minute of extra-time.
90' It's a substitution for both teams - Koke is out for Marcos Llorente, whilst Christian Fassnacht comes in for Steven Zuber.
87' Alba is brought down by Gavranovic, but is up quickly. This could go anywhere now, as we head into extra time.
86' Laporte tries to fancy one from distance due to Switzerland's deep defending. Elvedi makes a crucial block.
84' CHANCE FOR SPAIN!
This time it's Moreno with his left foot! After a cross is fizzed in by Koke, a block from one of the Swiss defenders falls kindly to Moreno. He fails to sort his feet out and his curling effort is an easy catch for Sommer.
82' Meanwhile, Mario Gavranovic takes the place of Haris Seferovic, who had an extremely quiet afternoon.
81' Shaqiri's time for today is up, as he is replaced by Djibril Sow.
80' Koke steps up to take the free-kick. It's another fine set-piece, which is headed wide by Moreno.
78' IT'S A STRAIGHT RED! Freuler slides in to win the ball back with neither feet on the ground. He catches Moreno, and Michael Oliver has no hesitation in going to his back pocket.
77' Following a short corner routine, Koke puts it on a plate for the Spanish centre-halves to attack. They fail to get the right contact.
76' This time, Olmo gets in behind on the left and is played through by Alba. His shot is blocked and Spain have a corner. The game seems to be opening up!
74' Moreno finds himself in possession and lays it off for Azpilicueta on the overlap. His cross is teasing but there's no one in the six-yard box to tuck it away.
72' Moreno tries to march on a solo mission after receiving a pass from Busquets. A certain group of Swiss players shut him down.
70' There's a real buzz about Switzerland at the moment. Can they forge a comeback?
Zakaria spots the run of Zuber down the left, and just as it looks like the latter might get away, Azpilicueta uses all his experience to prod it away.
69' Shaqiri almost gets in on goal again, as Sommer goes with a 50-60 yard ball over everyone. His counterpart is, however, there to clear his lines.
68' Shaqiri has levelled the scoring for Switzerland, only when Spain decide to drop their intensity and play for the 1-0 win. Freuler gets on the end of a sloppy miscommunication between Pau Torres and Laporte, and then squares it to Shaqiri in the centre of the box.
The Swiss main man makes no mistake, as he slides it into the back of the net. It's game on!
67' GOAL FOR SWITZERLAND! IT'S 1-1!
65' Widmer picks up the first booking of the game for a late stomp on Sergio Busquets.
63' HUGE CHANCE FOR SWITZERLAND!
Switzerland break away quickly, with Vargas doing brilliantly on the left-hand side. He manages to toe-poke it to Zuber, but Simon is there to push it away with his fingertips!
It's worth noting that Spain made a second change few minutes ago. Gerard Moreno is on for Alvaro Morata.
Interesting to see Switzerland using a hybrid formation today, defending in a 4-2-3-1 when out of possession then breaking into the typical back three when they retrieve it. #SUI#SUIESP#EURO2020
— Nischal Schwager-Patel (@Nischal_SP) July 2, 2021
59' Chance for Ferran Torres! Koke lifts one over the Swiss heads for Torres, who chests and volleys wide. A deflection means Spain have a corner.
57' CHANCE FOR SWITZERLAND!
The pass from the corner is terrific, and Zakaria gets beyond his marker, but agonisingly heads it wide. That was only a few inches away from levelling the score line.
56' Shaqiri drops in midfield once again and tries to curl one over the top of Laporte for Zuber. The Manchester City centre-half, however, lunges to prevent him from getting goalside.
54' The second-half is just as dire as the first 45. There's been nothing eventful thus far.
53' Zakaria gets across to stop Ferran Torres in his tracks. Spain try to recover but it's a Swiss throw.
52' Shaqiri tries to catch out the goalkeeper from a corner of all set-pieces, but the curl is too much. Wasteful.
50' Elvedi advances forward to the midfield area and tries to play an early cross. His ball deflects for a Swiss throw. They are yet to register a shot on target.
48' Ferran Torres is at it once again. He drops his shoulder, whips it low and hard into the path of Morata. The latter's first touch is heavy and Switzerland can regroup.
47' Switzerland play a huge cross from deep, and Alba gets his head to it, testing the reflexes of his own goalkeeper. Simon parries it away for a corner.
46' Morata is played in by Koke. He gets away from his marker and curls it towards Dani Olmo. In all the space in the world, he connects it well but the play is ruled offside on Morata.
Daniel Olmo, meanwhile, is a half-time substitute for Pablo Sarabia.
Spain claimed an early lead through a Zakaria own-goal, and have since established complete control of the game. They have dominated possession as well as thwarted potential Swiss counters. Can Switzerland, who are without Breel Embolo and Granit Xhaka, fight their way back?
HT: Switzerland 0-1 Spain
45' That's half-time. This game is far from open; it's Switzerland 0-1 Spain.
43' Finally, Switzerland are showing some patience with their moves and are keeping the ball for longer periods.
There have now been more own goals at Euro 2020 than at every other Euros combined 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/oDNi4Qfcwc
41' Shaqiri picks up the ball in midfield and tries to play it over the head for Zuber. The latter is offside, though.
39' Promising play from Switzerland. They dispossess Spain, and Akanji switches the ball onto the right. A fine play between Vargas and Widmer creates another opportunity from the corner for Switzerland.
37' Spain overload on the right and once again, manage to break open the opposite end of the pitch. Alba, in space, tries to curl one into the path of Morata but his overhead pass is too heavy.
35' Chance for Switzerland! The corner is played towards Akanji, who rises above the rest but also hurries his header off target.
34' Shaqiri finds himself in space, and a cross from Widmer results in another corner.
33' Pedri's instinctive freedom creates a beautiful passage of play between Torres and himself. Torres, however, runs into traffic and is brought down. Referee says play on.
31' Switzerland play the out-ball again, this time on the other side. Vargas was the one chasing, but a pacy Alba wins the footrace and passes back to his goalkeeper.
30' The Swiss try to carve open the Spanish back line down the left, but a double team there prevents the danger.
27' Slight issue for Sarabia, who was clattered by Rodriguez. Play is stopped.
25' CHANCE FOR SPAIN!
The resulting corner is whipped straight into Azpilicueta, who does ever so well to hold off Akanji. His free header is straight to the palms of Yann Sommer.
25' Spain get in behind the Swiss midfield, with Koke playing it wide to Torres. The Manchester City winger's cross is delightful, but Elvedi is there to prevent a second.
23' It's an early blow for Switzerland, as they are forced to make a change. Embolo slightly pulled his hamstring, with Ruben Vargas taking his place.
22' Shaqiri finally gets hold of the ball in a deeper position after Switzerland threatened to break. His through ball for Seferovic is just too heavy as Simon gathers.
20' Sloppy from Spain! That was untidy back passing from Pau Torres and Unai Simon. The dangerous Embolo wins it back and after a serious tussle, he wins a corner.
19' Zuber chases Azpilicueta down but a final touch from himself means Spain have a goalkick.
17' Koke strikes it with a lot of curl, but it's just leaning back and is over the post. A let-off for Switzerland.
16' Foul for Spain! Dangerous area, as Morata holds the ball up well and is fouled. That is silly and unnecessary.
15' Once again, Spain move it brilliantly from right to left. A charge from Torres results in acres of space for Sarabia. His cross is blocked and Spain have another corner.
14' Torres loses out to Zuber, who then plays a square pass to his forwards. Pedri's sensational work rate allows him to get back in time and snuff out the danger.
13' Switzerland's counters have caused a few hiccups in the Spanish camp, but they lead. And now, they're control possession.
11' Pedri plays a wonderfully-threaded ball down the ground for Sarabia. He plays a fine one-two with Morata, but is then robbed off possession. Spain recover quickly and recycle again.
8' SPAIN LEAD! 1-0!
This might be another own goal in a tournament full of own goals. The corner is too high for anyone, and eventually reaches the left foot of Jordi Alba. The Barcelona man's effort deflects off Zakaria and lands in the back of the net!
7' Torres puts his head down and tries to glide forward, but a strong challenge from Ricardo Rodriguez results in the first corner of the game.
4' It's excellent play down that right-hand side for Spain, as Morata, Torres and Azpilicueta exchange quick passes. Torres crosses it and Sommer gets off his line to punch it away.
2' Switzerland do what they have done all tournament - press the ball at a high intensity, win it back and Shaqiri is away. After a bit of hesitation,t the winger lets fly from distance but his shot is blocked and gathered by Unai Simon.
1' Spain aren't allowing Switzerland to get their first touch. Pau Torres, surprisingly is playing as a left centre-half instead of Aymeric Laporte.
The players have lined up following the national anthem, and Spain are set to get us underway!
Just 15 minutes to go for kick-off! Before we witness the spectacle at the Gazprom Arena, read our expert columnist Paul Merson's predictions for all quarterfinal matches.
Both teams appear to have retained their winning formula, making minimal changes to their respective in-form playing XI. With attacking prowess aplenty on either camp, it's going to be a matter of which team takes its chances.
Spain bottled many opportunities in their first couple of games, whilst Switzerland only managed to convert four of their 47 shots on goal.
Switzerland substitutes: Yvon Mvogo, Edimilson Fernandes, Djibril Sow, Gregor Kobel, Mario Gavranovic, Jordan Lotomba, Christian Fassnacht, Kevin Mbabu, Loris Benito, Ruben Vargas, Eray Comert, Fabian Schar Spain substitutes: Diego Llorente, Diego Llorente, Mikel Oyarzabal, Robert Sanchez, Gerard Moreno, David de Gea, Thiago Alcantara, Daniel Olmo, Jose Gaya, Eric Garcia, Adama Traore, Rodri
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) July 2, 2021
Spain are playing some free-flowing football in the competition of late, but Switzerland, arguably, have the most balanced attack in many ways. Their front three, combined with what the full-backs can do, is extremely unique and diverse.
No player has bagged more assists in this Euros that Steven Zuber, who also has plenty of defensive duties to fulfil. Silvan Widmer is another one with impeccable abilities with and without the ball. He reads and sniffs danger quickly, which in turn allows Switzerland to morph into a five-man attack.
Xherdan Shaqiri's quality on the ball is distinguished. While Embolo can brush defenders aside, inject pace and is always an option for the out-ball, Haris Seferovic's electric form in front of goal is what has taken Switzerland to their first quarter-final in this tourney.
Head-to-head
In 22 head-to-head encounters between the two teams, Spain possess an overwhelming advantage with 16 wins and only the solitary defeat. This will be their first meeting in the European championships.
Read what renowned commentator Jim Beglin has to state on five surprise performers in Euro 2020.
As for Switzerland, it's simple - rely on the quality of the long ball and their lightning quick counter-attack. They clawed back into the game against France, recovering from a 3-1 score line to draw the game at the end of extra time. All five of their players converted from the spot in the shootouts, and Kylian Mbappe's unexpected miss meant that Switzerland booked their first-ever quarterfinal spot in the European championships.
After a couple of dire draws to start with in Euro 2020, Spain found their radar and romped to the last 16 with a smashing 5-0 victory over a sorry Slovakia side. What followed was one of the all-time Euros classics, as they left it late to claim a 5-3 win against World Cup finalists Croatia. Against a Switzerland side beaming with confidence after their own upset against France.
This fixture promises to be gritty, tightly-contested and nerve-wracking. Can Spain regain their glory days, or will the Swiss cause another great Euro 2020 upset?
Jadon Sancho to Manchester United... HERE WE GO! 🚨🏴 #MUFC#Sancho
Done deal confirmed. Agreement reached between Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.
€90m with add ons. Agents fee and personal terms agreed, contract until 2026.
After Jadon Sancho's long-winding transfer speculation came to a fitting end, you wouldn't want to miss our expert columnist Fabrizio Romano's latest update on the transfer window!
Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's live coverage of the highly-anticipated encounter between Switzerland and Spain! This is Akarshak Roy, your host for the evening, and I'll take you through every key moment of this quarter-final clash.
Until then, take care and stay safe.
Catch all the action right here on Sportskeeda, as the two heavyweights take on each other in about 10 minutes.
Mario Gavranovic was the only one to score for Switzerland.
The Swiss can hold their heads high, after having come so far in the tournament. Today, they were without their skipper. Later, Breel Embolo was a huge miss for them. They played for over 40 minutes with 10 men after Remo Freuler was given his marching orders.
SPAIN WIN 3-1, AND ARE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS OF EURO 2020.
Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad is on it. He could send Spain to the semis!
Oh my word, this is a hat-trick of misses!
It whistles over the bar!
He can score this time, goes high and wide to the top corner!
IT'S ANOTHER SAVE! WHAT IS HAPPENING? He misses!
That walk was unnatural, and Sommer dives to the right side to save it!
He jogs to the ball and waits for Simon's movement. His kick is to the left-side of the goal, Simon dives and saves it! 1-1!
He finds the target in sumptuous fashion, lifting the ball with power to the top corner.
He scores!
Sergio Buasquets.
This has summed up Spain's extra time - another big chance missed.
Rodri is at the end of a cross from the right, but his header is soft and well over the bar.
This time, it's a near post flick from Busquets, waiting for someone to head it in. But Sommer collects the ball comfortably.
Alba times his run well, cuts it back for Olmo, but the latter's effort is straight at Sommer.
That is some block from Ricardo Rodriguez, after Llorente receives the ball at the edge of the box and steers it goalward.
We are heading into a half-time break in extra time.
Switzerland are relying on Sommer, while Spain are missing chance after chance after chance!
This time it's Dani Olmo, squaring it to Oyarzabal. The latter cuts inside and tests the gloves to Sommer, who is equal to it with another fingertip save.
Moreno is at it again, and so is Sommer. He tips it wide off his far post to prevent an imminent second.
From three yards out, Moreno gets on the end of some wrestling in the box. He volleys it hard but straight at Sommer, who reacts brilliantly.
Off a corner this time, he rises higher than anyone else but fails to make the right contact with the ball.
Alba's swerving effort is tipped over the bar by Sommer. The Spanish left-back has been at the heart of all the attacks in these five minutes or so.
After a brilliant play down the left, Alba runs into space on the overlap. His first-time cross is a classic Jordi Alba delivery, but Moreno misses from three yards.
We are heading to extra time!
This time it's Moreno with his left foot! After a cross is fizzed in by Koke, a block from one of the Swiss defenders falls kindly to Moreno. He fails to sort his feet out and his curling effort is an easy catch for Sommer.
Zakaria spots the run of Zuber down the left, and just as it looks like the latter might get away, Azpilicueta uses all his experience to prod it away.
Freuler gets on the end of a sloppy miscommunication between Pau Torres and Laporte, and then squares it to Shaqiri in the centre of the box.
The Swiss main man makes no mistake, as he slides it into the back of the net. It's game on!
Switzerland break away quickly, with Vargas doing brilliantly on the left-hand side. He manages to toe-poke it to Zuber, but Simon is there to push it away with his fingertips!
The pass from the corner is terrific, and Zakaria gets beyond his marker, but agonisingly heads it wide. That was only a few inches away from levelling the score line.
Can Switzerland, who are without Breel Embolo and Granit Xhaka, fight their way back?
The corner is played towards Akanji, who rises above the rest but also hurries his header off target.
The resulting corner is whipped straight into Azpilicueta, who does ever so well to hold off Akanji. His free header is straight to the palms of Yann Sommer.
This might be another own goal in a tournament full of own goals. The corner is too high for anyone, and eventually reaches the left foot of Jordi Alba. The Barcelona man's effort deflects off Zakaria and lands in the back of the net!
Euro 2020: Paul Merson’s predictions for the quarterfinal fixtures
With attacking prowess aplenty on either camp, it's going to be a matter of which team takes its chances.
Spain bottled many opportunities in their first couple of games, whilst Switzerland only managed to convert four of their 47 shots on goal.
Spain substitutes: Diego Llorente, Diego Llorente, Mikel Oyarzabal, Robert Sanchez, Gerard Moreno, David de Gea, Thiago Alcantara, Daniel Olmo, Jose Gaya, Eric Garcia, Adama Traore, Rodri
No player has bagged more assists in this Euros that Steven Zuber, who also has plenty of defensive duties to fulfil. Silvan Widmer is another one with impeccable abilities with and without the ball. He reads and sniffs danger quickly, which in turn allows Switzerland to morph into a five-man attack.
Xherdan Shaqiri's quality on the ball is distinguished. While Embolo can brush defenders aside, inject pace and is always an option for the out-ball, Haris Seferovic's electric form in front of goal is what has taken Switzerland to their first quarter-final in this tourney.
In 22 head-to-head encounters between the two teams, Spain possess an overwhelming advantage with 16 wins and only the solitary defeat.
This will be their first meeting in the European championships.
All five of their players converted from the spot in the shootouts, and Kylian Mbappe's unexpected miss meant that Switzerland booked their first-ever quarterfinal spot in the European championships.
What followed was one of the all-time Euros classics, as they left it late to claim a 5-3 win against World Cup finalists Croatia. Against a Switzerland side beaming with confidence after their own upset against France.
This fixture promises to be gritty, tightly-contested and nerve-wracking. Can Spain regain their glory days, or will the Swiss cause another great Euro 2020 upset?
Fabrizio Romano's Transfer Roundup: Updates on Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's futures, Arsenal active in the transfer market and more
Switzerland vs Spain prediction, preview, team news and more | UEFA Euro 2020