29 June 2021
A Euro 2020 Round of 16 full of emotions, as Alvaro Morata's Spain reached the quarter-finals in thrilling fashion, overcoming Croatia 5-3 after extra time, whilst Adrien Rabiot's France were eliminated 5-4 on penalties by Switzerland after drawing 3-3 following extra-time.
Starting with Croatia-Spain and Alvaro Morata, who was on the pitch for the full 120 minutes, was decisive for his national team at the end of a rollercoaster match! After going down to an own-goal by Pedri after 20 minutes, Spain clawed their way back in emphatic fashion through goals from Pablo Sarabia, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ferran Torres to race into a 3-1 lead. The game seemed over, but late late goals from Mislav Orsic in the 85th minute and then Mario Pasalic in the 92nd minute sent the match into extra-time. In the 100th minute, Morata made his mark, collecting a Daniel Olmo cross on his right before emphatically smashing home on his left to put Spain in front! Three minutes later and Spain sealed the match through Mikel Oyarzabal's effort to send them though to the quarter-finals.
Later on last night, the 9 o'clock game between France and Switzerland got underway, following suit of the earlier Croatia-Spain match it would turn out to be another topsy turvy thriller. Adrien Rabiot, played the full game at left-wing back following absences to Les Bleus and it would be Switzerland who took a shock lead in Bucharest through Haris Seferovic going into the break. The Swiss had the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot on 55 minutes but Hugo Lloris denied Ricardo Rodriguez. It clearly spurred France on as Karim Benzema went up the other end to level the match two minutes later, before adding a quick-fire second to completely turn the game in France's favour. Paul Pogba then looked to have sealed it with a long-range blaster to make the score 3-1, but a late second from Seferovic and 90th minute equaliser from Mario Gavranovic inexplicably sent the match to extra-time where the sides couldn't be separated. To penalties it went and after every spot kick had been converted, PSG's Kylian Mbappe stepped up to take France's fifth but saw his shot saved by Yann Sommer to send Switzerland through to the quarter-finals!
Across the world, Rodrigo Bentancur's Uruguay faced off against Paraguay in their final Copa America group game. A first half Edinson Cavani penalty was enough to give Rodrigo's side the win, with him being named Man of the Match in the process. They'll face Juan Cuadrado's Colombia in the quarter-finals in a South American Bianconeri derby.
Tonight, the Euro 2020 Round of 16 concludes with Dejan Kulusevski's Sweden taking on Ukraine at Hampden Park.
