The football world held its breath as Spain, the reigning world champions, faced a tricky test. They were up against Switzerland, playing on home turf, in a nail-biting European Championship quarter-final. Even with two missed penalty kicks, Spain powered through, securing a 2-0 win and a coveted spot in the semi-finals.
The breakthrough for Spain came in the second half. Del Castillo found the net in the 66th minute, breaking the deadlock. Just five minutes later, Cláudia Pina added another goal, putting the Roja firmly in control. This victory means Spain will play in the semi-finals for the first time since 1997. It also ends their streak of three straight exits at the quarter-final stage.
For Switzerland, this match in Bern was a landmark moment. It was their first-ever knockout game in a Euro final tournament. Swiss coach Pia Sundhage showed incredible courage and vision. She fielded three players under 18 years old in her starting lineup. This was a first for the tournament. Her team also adopted a very defensive approach against the powerful world champions.
Despite their dominant performance, Spain faced some tense moments. Caldentey missed a penalty kick early in the game, just nine minutes in. Later, Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, also missed from the spot in the 88th minute. The drama continued right to the end. Maritz from the home team got a red card in the 92nd minute. This added to Switzerland’s challenging night.
Spain now looks ahead to a tough semi-final match. They will face either France or Germany. Those two teams are set to clash in their own quarter-final showdown on Saturday.