MX23RW : Saturday, August 7 02:11:46| >> :600:226670:226670:
Jul 2, 2021 at 5pm UK at Saint Petersburg Stadium
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
1-1
SpainSpain
Shaqiri (68')
Widmer (67'), Gavranovic (120+1')
Freuler (77')
FT
(aet)
Zakaria (8' og.)
Laporte (90+3')
Spain win 3-1 on penalties

Luis Enrique expecting tough examination by Switzerland

Luis Enrique expecting tough examination by Switzerland
© Reuters
The sides will go head-to-head for a place in the Euro 2020 semi-finals in St Petersburg on Friday.

Spain coach Luis Enrique insists there is no complacency in his camp going into Friday's Euro 2020 quarter-final against Switzerland in St Petersburg.

Switzerland stunned France in the last 16 and Enrique's side face the underdogs and not the world champions for a place in the semi-finals against either Belgium or Italy.

"The reality is Switzerland have got through and nothing else matters," Enrique told a press conference.

Spain's players applaud the fans at the end of their thrilling 5-3 win against Croatia
Spain's players applaud the fans at the end of their thrilling 5-3 win against Croatia (Martin Meissner/AP Pool)

"The good thing for us is that both teams know each other very well. We competed recently in the Nations League."

Spain edged a 1-0 win in their first Nations League meeting in Madrid in October and were then held 1-1 the following month in Basel.

"They're going to be a very tough team to face and I think for the spectator there might not be some big names, but they're a great group of players," Enrique said.

"They're a match for us in terms of the way they press, the way they attack, so it's going to be very difficult for us."

Both sides needed extra time in their thrilling last-16 matches. Spain let slip a 3-1 lead in normal time before running out 5-3 winners against Croatia.

Switzerland struck twice in the closing stages to draw 3-3 with France after 90 minutes before winning 5-4 on penalties.

Enrique dismissed the idea his players might be tired, adding: "No. It's not going to affect us at all.

"If you look at the stats, we have some fantastic people in the backroom staff, and the stats are all impressive.

Luis Enrique celebrates victory against Croatia with his backroom staff
Luis Enrique celebrates victory against Croatia with his backroom staff (Wolfgang Rattay/ AP)

"I have full confidence in all 24 players. Physical issues are just as important as mental issues. If something's not going right mentally, you're perhaps not running so well.

"I think it's more a mental issue than a physical one and physically we're in great shape."

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said neither he nor his players were content with reaching the tournament's last eight after their heroics against France.

"We need to be hungry again, greedy, to make it to the next round," the  Sarajevo-born 57-year-old told a press conference.

Jubilation for Vladimir Petkovic after Switzerland upset favourites France in the round of 16
Jubilation for Vladimir Petkovic after Switzerland upset favourites France in the round of 16 (Marko Djurica/AP)

"From this point on I can't say I'm satisfied and happy that we made it so far because, for me, the next step is always the most important.

"We want to succeed, make it to the next round. We know that we have to play against one of the strongest teams, Spain, one of the favourites, but we will try to take our chance and make it to the next round."

Switzerland will be without suspended captain Granit Xhaka after the inspirational Arsenal midfielder received his second booking of the tournament against France.

Petkovic added:  "A player like Granit, we can miss him a lot, but what I want to see against Spain is that everyone gives a little more – not just to replace him – but also to beat Spain."

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Today's Olympic highlights header

Saturday's key events


ATHLETICS
· Team GB have three contenders in the women's marathon - Stephanie Davis, Jess Piasecki and Stephanie Twell (10pm)
· The women's high jump final includes Great Britain's Morgan Lake (11.35am)
· Jessica Judd and Eilish McColgan compete in the women's 10,000m final, but most eyes will be on world record holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia (11.45am)
· There is more British representation in the men's 1500m final as Jake Heyward, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman bid for a place on the podium. New Olympic record holder Abel Kipsang of Kenya is among the favourites for gold (2.40pm)
· The women's 4x400m relay promises to be a thrilling affair, with USA favourites and Great Britain involved (1.30pm)
· After the women's it is the men's 4x400m relay final, with USA also among the front-runners for gold in that (1.50pm)

GOLF
· The women's golf tournament comes to a head, with USA's Nelly Korda holding a three-shot leading going into the final round (10.30pm)

DIVING
· Tom Daley overcame a slow start to qualify for the men's 10m platform semi-final (2am), and will hope to be part of the final as he bids for a second Olympic gold at Tokyo (7am)

BASKETBALL
· USA's domination of the basketball could continue in the men's gold medal match as they take on France (3.30am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· Gold is up for grabs in the men's final as Norway take on the Olympic athletes from Russia (3.30am)

BOXING
· Gal Yafai has a date with destiny in the men's flyweight gold medal bout against Carlo Paalam of the Philippines (6am)

WATER POLO
· Spain and USA go head to head in the women's gold medal match (8.30am)

CYCLING
· After a masterful gold medal-winning display by Team GB's women on Friday, the men look to emulate their teammates in the madison final (8.55am)

BASEBALL
· The day of gold medal games continues in baseball as hosts Japan look to beat USA to the top prize (11am)

EQUESTRIAN
· Team GB will be gunning for more glory in equestrian when they take part in the jumping team final (11am)

HANDBALL
· A gold-laden Saturday also includes the men's handball gold medal match, with France facing Denmark (1pm)

VOLLEYBALL
· France are also involved in the gold medal match in the volleyball, taking on the Russian Olympic Committee in a bid for top spot on the podium (1.15pm)

FOOTBALL
· Two football giants compete for the gold medal in the men's final as defending champions Brazil take on Spain (2.30pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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Copa Diego Maradona
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