Poland are the first team at EURO 2016 to go through to the quarterfinals. Robert Lewandowski and his men beat Switzerland in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes could not produce a winner. Jakub Błaszczykowski put the Poles ahead after 39 minutes, then with eight minutes to go, Xherdan Shaqiri equalised with a wonder goal. The score stayed at 1-1 after extra time, and penalties was to decide to outcome. Grzegorz Krychowiak scored the deciding penalty after Granit Xhaka missed Switzerland’s second. Poland’s quarter final will be played on Thursday, 30th June at 21:00 CEST in Marseille. Their opponents: the winner of the last 16 tie between Croatia and Portugal.
The game got off to a lively start, with Switzerland very nearly giving away a goal after only 30 seconds, but the teams soon settled down and the pace dropped off somewhat. With half time approaching, the game was crying out for a goal, which Jakub Błaszczykowski provided following a fantastic Kamil Grosicki run and assist. The Poles went in at half time one goal to the good, and deservedly so: Poland showed far more positivity and creativity, something the Swiss would have to at least match when the teams walked out for the second half - and match it they did. In fact, the Swiss went one better and began to bombard the Polish goal – Seferovic coming the closest when he hit the crossbar. At this stage it looked like Poland may have ridden their luck. Switzerland needed a hero. Enter Shaqiri: the Stoke City midfielder finally got the better of Fabianski with what will surely be goal of the tournament, an overhead kick from outside the box, onto the post and in.
120 minutes; no winner
From a neutral perspective, the prospect of 30 more minutes was a mouth-watering one, but extra time never quite lived up to expectations, particularly in the first half, where the referee must have been tempted to save time and blow for the penalty shootout straight away. The few Swiss chances in the second half did not find the net, meaning the first of eight Last 16 ties would be decided on penalties. Granit Xhaka was the only player to miss from the spot, and Poland’s flawless five takers took their team through to the quarterfinals.
Poland are the first team at EURO 2016 to go through to the quarterfinals. Robert Lewandowski and his men beat Switzerland in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes could not produce a winner. Jakub Błaszczykowski put the Poles ahead after 39 minutes, then with eight minutes to go, Xherdan Shaqiri equalised with a wonder goal. The score stayed at 1-1 after extra time, and penalties was to decide to outcome. Grzegorz Krychowiak scored the deciding penalty after Granit Xhaka missed Switzerland’s second. Poland’s quarter final will be played on Thursday, 30th June at 21:00 CEST in Marseille. Their opponents: the winner of the last 16 tie between Croatia and Portugal.
The game got off to a lively start, with Switzerland very nearly giving away a goal after only 30 seconds, but the teams soon settled down and the pace dropped off somewhat. With half time approaching, the game was crying out for a goal, which Jakub Błaszczykowski provided following a fantastic Kamil Grosicki run and assist. The Poles went in at half time one goal to the good, and deservedly so: Poland showed far more positivity and creativity, something the Swiss would have to at least match when the teams walked out for the second half - and match it they did. In fact, the Swiss went one better and began to bombard the Polish goal – Seferovic coming the closest when he hit the crossbar. At this stage it looked like Poland may have ridden their luck. Switzerland needed a hero. Enter Shaqiri: the Stoke City midfielder finally got the better of Fabianski with what will surely be goal of the tournament, an overhead kick from outside the box, onto the post and in.
120 minutes; no winner
From a neutral perspective, the prospect of 30 more minutes was a mouth-watering one, but extra time never quite lived up to expectations, particularly in the first half, where the referee must have been tempted to save time and blow for the penalty shootout straight away. The few Swiss chances in the second half did not find the net, meaning the first of eight Last 16 ties would be decided on penalties. Granit Xhaka was the only player to miss from the spot, and Poland’s flawless five takers took their team through to the quarterfinals.
