Shaqiri shimmies, Poles dance

ST ETIENNE, June 25

Poland beat Switzerland 5-4 in a shootout to reach their first European Championship quarterfinal as a riveting clash ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday following a brilliant late equaliser by Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri.

Grezgorz Krychowiak drilled in the winning spot-kick after Granit Xhaka had missed Switzerland’s second penalty to send the Polish fans into raptures.

The Poles will meet Croatia or Portugal, who play later on Saturday, for a berth in the semis. Jakub Blaszczykowski had given Poland a 39th-minute lead before Shaqiri levelled with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 82nd to send the contest into a dramatic climax.

Poland dominated the first half and should have gone ahead inside the first minute when Arkadiusz Milik sent his shot over a gaping goal following a calamitous defensive mix-up. With striker Robert Lewandowski subdued, the Poles had to rely on chances created by left winger Kamil Grosicki and Blaszczykowski on the other flank. 

Blaszczykowski broke the deadlock with a composed finish from 10 metres after a darting run by Grosicki and a dummy from Milik gave the winger time and space to pick his spot.

Shaqiri produced a moment of magic with one of the best goals of the tournament in the 82nd minute, twisting his body in the air to unleash a fierce shot which gave Fabianski no chance as it went in off the post. — Reuters

Tonight
Live on Sony Six, Sony ESPN  
6.30PM France vs Rep of Ireland    
9.30PM Germany vs Slovakia  
00.30AM Hungary vs Belgium

Quick  passes

10 Spanish footballers subjected to dope tests

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) subjected 10 Spanish players to dope tests at a hotel on the island of Re, France, where the Euro 2016 is being held. Urine and blood samples were taken without any problems, according to the official website of the Spanish national team. The players subjected to the tests were not identified. Spain meet Italy in pre-quarterfinals.

Ticket allocation unfair, says Ireland manager

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill said it was unfair that fewer than 5,000 tickets had been allocated to Ireland supporters for their game against France. France found out three days before Ireland that they would be playing in Lyon on Sunday for a place in the quarterfinals. “Ticket allocation is something I do have a gripe about”, O’Neill told a news conference at the brand new Parc OL stadium, which has around 59,000 seats. “It’s totally disproportionate. For a stadium this size and this brilliance, for us or any team playing in the round of 16 to be allocated under 5,000 tickets is pretty unfair, really,” he added.

Italy can cash in on Spain’s lack of aggro: Ancelotti  

Spain’s lack of variety and aggression could give Italy the upper hand in the pre-quarterfinal clash, according to Carlo Ancelotti. But Ancelotti said the reigning champions are not the team they were four years ago and that Italy have every chance of making the quarterfinals. “I keep getting told that Italy have a really hard draw facing Spain in the second round. My only response is, yes, but Spain have a really tough draw, too. Italy will play to their strengths in defence and close the space between the lines. They do not have the players to dominate possession,” Ancelotti said.   

England focus on penalty shootout: Rooney

Wayne Rooney revealed that England is intensifying penalty practice ahead of their stage clash with Iceland.”I think now we are in the knockout stages, I’m sure we will practice a lot more (penalties) as a group rather than players going up individually — practice as a group in case it comes and we need them,” Rooney said. “It’s a nervous moment. I remember in the last Euro against Italy. As I’ve said before, I always know which way I’m going and Gianluigi Buffon was actually pointing and telling me he knows I’m going that way. He was right, so then I started wondering if I should go the other way. But I ended up the going the same way but he dived the other way. Just by a goalkeeper pointing one way, it can knock you off. But you have to be confident in what you have practised.” — Agencies