Spain beat Swiss 3-1 on penalties to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 | Euro2020 News

After a 1-1 draw, Unai Simon made two saves on the shot to save Spain’s chances of securing a fourth European crown.

Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two penalties as Spain beat 10 Swiss men 3-1 in a shootout to secure a place in the Euro 2020 semifinals.

After a 1-1 draw on Friday in St Petersburg where Switzerland played for 43 minutes, Simon made two saves in the shootout to help Spain secure a fourth European crown.

It was heartbreaking for Switzerland, who were begging to reach the final whistle of the first major race in their history.

Spain advanced early when Denis Zakaria cast their net, but Switzerland remained the better team for a long time and Xherdan Shaqiri, representing Granit Xhaka who was suspended as captain, equalized in the 68th minute.

The Swiss were reduced to 10 men with just 13 minutes to go, however, after midfielder Remo Freuler was sacked for a foul on Gerard Moreno.

Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer, France’s leading scorer in the last 16 games, made several saves in extra time.

But Simon saved for Fabian Schaer and Manuel Akanji, while Ruben Vargas breathed a sigh of relief as Spain passed, Mikel Oyarzabal firing the right shot.

Spain go into the final at Wembley against Belgium or Italy.

After scoring 10 goals in their last two games, this was like a return to the game in which Spain played their first two games against Sweden and Poland.

But the winners in 2008 and 2012 dreamed of the first quarter-quarter, leading the way in just eight minutes.

Kona only took it off until Jordi Alba, whose left volley was fired at Sommer by Swiss midfielder Zakaria, just played instead of Xhaka.

It was the 10th goal of Euro 2020, more than 15 other nations combined.

Alvaro Morata missed a very good chance by getting close to Sommer where he was not recognized, but Switzerland started to grow until the game.

Silvan Widmer left the corner, before Steven Zuber thought he would win a fine once he was sidelined.

Spanish midfielder Luis Enrique sent Dani Olmo to Pablo Sarabia during the break and RB Leipzig man threatened within 60 seconds, after seeing his low volley run by Sommer.

Zacharias was about to accomplish his goal when his head was slightly stretched.

Switzerland had a good chance of winning in the 64e minute, when Shaqiri created a quick threat that ended in a goalless draw for Spain’s Simon in a bid to prevent him from being tested by Zuber in his closet.

Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (right) fights with Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta [Dmitri Lovetsky/AFP]

Shaqiri smiles

But the underdogs got the goal they deserved four minutes later, when Freuler jumped on a tight ball after a defensive defense in Spain and chased Shaqiri into the far corner and scored his third goal of the tournament.

The game changed to 77 minutes, when detective Michael Oliver gave Freuler his walking rules against Moreno.

Switzerland managed to block Spain until the end of their season easily, but in the third minute of half an hour Moreno needed to bring Spain back, but to disrupt the Alba cross nearby.

Switzerland were likely lucky that they did not send another player shortly afterwards, when Widmer ran out of a second yellow card for accusing Olmo.

Moreno, in turn, offered another golden opportunity, rejected by Sommer, before stopping Borussia Moenchengladbach from a water rescue from Oyarzabal.

Sommer made eight saves in extra time on his own, but a shot from Rodri was not enough, though Sergio Busquets also achieved this, while Switzerland missed three of the four penalties.