Italy’s elimination of Belgium may have proven the only shocking result of the quarter finals as Denmark and Spain edge out Czech Republic and Switzerland respectively, while England ran riot in a 4-0 win, over Ukraine.
Italy celebrate their progression into the semi finals after win over Belgium. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Nazionale Italiana
Spain and Switzerland went head to head for a place in the last four on Friday, but it was Luis Enrique’s side that progressed after a shootout win in Saint Petersburg.
A Denis Zakaria’s own goal in the eighth minute, the tenth of this summer’s European Championship, taking it’s total past the number of own goals scored in the 15 previous editions combined, nine, gave Spain an early lead.
However, Xhedran Shaqiri leveled matters for The Swiss, eight minutes after the hour mark, after being set up by Remo Freuler, the later who received his marching order ten minutes later for a lounge on Gerard Moreno.
Switzerland held on to force extra time and then penalties. But they couldn’t help themselves in the shootouts despite Spain losing first kicks twice. Mikel Oyarzabal eventually scored what proved the decisive spot kick as Spain advance with a 3-1 shootout win.
Spain are now the sixth nation to progress from two separate knockout matches of a single European Championship tournament that went to extra-time or beyond – and they will take courage from the fact that all five previous sides to do so went on to win the competition.
They will face Italy in the last four, after Roberto Mancini’s men continue their stellar form in the tournament to knockout number one ranked team in the world, Belgium.
Nicolo Barela celebrates giving Italy the lead against Belgium. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Faisal HQ
Goals from Nicolo Barela and Lorenzo Insigne gave Italy a 2-0 lead before Romelu Lukaku halved the deficit from the spot just before half time, after Di Lorenzo shoved Jeremy Doku in the area. Doku in the process becomes the first teenager to win a penalty in the Euro finals, since Wayne Rooney in 2004.
Belgium could not find a way through the Italian defence in the second half as Italy held on for a place in the semi finals, and their 15th consecutive win in European Championship matches, including qualifiers which is a new competition record. The same record Belgium themselves were denied, having also won 14 consecutive matches before the defeat.
On Saturday Denmark continue their run in the competition at the expense of Czech Republic’s brilliant run, which came to a halt in a 2-1 win for the Danes. Thomas Delaney and Kasper Dolberg scored early and late in the first half respectively, while Patrik Schick scored his fifth goal of the tournament, to go level with Cristiano Ronaldo, just four minutes after the break.
Denmark held on for the win which sees them in the semi final of the European Championship for the first time since 1992, with the 29 years gap between their last time in the last four appearance the longest in the competition history.
They will now take on England for a place in the final, after the Three Lions’ demolition of Ukraine later in the day.
Harry Kane scored twice against Ukraine, more than he had scored in the previous four matches in the tournament. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Faisal HQ
Harry Kane scored double, Harry Maguire also on target and Jordan Henderson scored his first ever international goal in his 62nd appearance as England thrashed Andriy Shevchenko side in a 4-0 score-line, under the lights, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
England have now kept seven consecutive clean sheets for the first time in their history, with the Three Lions run without conceding currently standing at 662 minutes, while Jordan Pickford is also the first England keeper since Gordon Banks in 1966 to keep seven consecutive clean sheets.
The semi finals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Italy and Spain first coming up in Wembley, while England and Denmark will also lock horns in them same Stadium, on the second day of the semi finals.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
