UEFA 2020 Euro Championship – Day 22

The first of two days of action, as the Quarter-Finals begin and the path to the Final continues.

Switzerland v Spain (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

Many were expecting this tie to see France take on Spain, but instead the Swiss gate-crashed the party after beating the reigning World Champions on penalties. Spain themselves had a game full of intrigue as they saw off Croatia 5-3 AET in the Round of 16. Surely we won’t have such a dramatic game later? Is this a fixture too far for Switzerland? Or are the Spanish there for the taking if they don’t turn their expected dominance of possession into goals?

This will be the first time they have played each other in the Finals of the Euros, with their last meeting in a Finals tournament coming at the  2010 World Cup. In a group game, the Swiss won 1-0 with a second-half goal from Gelson Fernandes.

Spain have rattled in five goals in each of their last two games, and suggests they are more than starting to click. However, Switzerland showed against France they have a doggedness and skill to upset the best teams around. Indeed, Arsenal fans may not have recognised Swiss captain Granit Xhaka, and not just for his dyed hair in the France game, but a truly inspirational performance against Les Bleus. On that form he will be a major miss as he is suspended for this game.

For me, Spain will have too much for the Swiss, but don’t expect another five-goal salvo.

 

Belgium v Italy (Allianz Arena, Munich)

A truly heavyweight contest in Germany later tonight. Probably the two favourites for the competition. Italy sparkling on a record-breaking run and seemingly playing with a freedom and flair not always associated with the Azzuri. They breezed through their qualifying group but were taken to extra-time by Austria as they had to leave the comforts of Rome to get through the Round of 16 at Wembley. Belgium like Italy went unbeaten through the group stage before dumping reigning Europeans Champions, Portugal, Ronaldo et al, out 1-0. They survived a late rally from Portugal, but with class all over the park, they came through. However, their concern from that game will be the fitness or otherwise of key players, with Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard serious doubts for the game in Munich.

These two nations are familiar foes down the years, with these two meeting at the last Euro Finals back in 2016 at the group stage. The Italians triumphed that day 2-0 in Lyon, with goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle.

Genuinely really hard to separate these two sides, and it may come down to a single goal in normal time and could conceivably require penalties to separate them. The deciding factor could whether De Bruyne and Eden Hazard are missing from the Belgian’s line-up.