Qualified after crazy matches against France and Croatia, Monday, Swiss and Spaniards face each other on Friday at 6 p.m. in the quarter-finals of the Euro.
In St. Petersburg, everyone expects to see another prolific match between two playful and sometimes unbalanced teams.
Who would have thought, Monday afternoon, that the Swiss would face the Spaniards in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, Friday, in Saint Petersburg (6 p.m.)?
Victorious of a French team on alternating current, Monday evening (3-3, 5 tab to 4), the Nati now advances as a real outsider of this unexpected duel before the last four.
Faced with it, Spain will try to find the semi-finals of a great competition for the first time since 2012, date of its last coronation at the Euro.
The question: how far will Switzerland go?
They were predicted to end the course against the formidable Blues on Monday evening, during a knockout round
a priori
unbalanced.
Vladimir Petkovic's players thwarted all predictions with impressive collective strength, combined with offensive efficiency on great evenings.
Now everyone is wondering: can this Nati create the feat and sneak into the last four of a competition that started badly (1-1 draw against Wales, 3-0 defeat against Italy)?
No one has the answer, but they believe it.
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Several reasons for this mad hope.
First, Switzerland exploded their glass ceiling, which had prevented them from winning a knockout match since 1938. Moreover, it was done after a brilliantly won penalty shootout, exercise hated by the Helvetians.
Finally, with three goals scored against one of the best defenses in the world, the teammates of the hot Haris Seferovic can hope to shake the nets of Unai Simon, the Spanish goalkeeper.
The shape of the moment: Spain on fire
If the Swiss are in good shape, what about the Spaniards?
In their last two matches, Ferran Torres, César Azpilicueta and others have scored a total of ten goals, symbolizing fiery power in attack.
In comparison, Luis Enrique's Roja had scored only one goal in the first two matches, against opponents not necessarily stronger than Slovakia and Croatia.
Against Switzerland, another outsider looking like a new scarecrow, can Iberian magic operate again?
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The doubt: two teams on the knees?
This is one of the unknowns of this match played in Saint Petersburg: the two teams, who come out of two matches at more than 120 minutes, will they have recovered enough to offer quality football to their supporters? With four short days between the knockout stages and the quarter-finals, at the end of a marathon season for many, there is room for doubt.