Enlarge image
Italy's Leonardo Bonucci celebrates a goal against Belgium that was not recognized due to an offside position
Photo:
Federico Gambarini / dpa
The first two quarter-finals of the
European Football Championship
were scheduled for Friday
.
First defeated
Spain
to
Switzerland
after a dramatic penalty shoot-out
,
Italy
then threw co-favorites Belgium 2-1 (2-1) out of the tournament.
In the semifinals in London's Wembley Stadium on July 6th (9 p.m., Liceticker: SPIEGEL.de) Italy will meet Spain.
The press comments on the games:
SWITZERLAND - SPAIN (1: 3 IE)
SWITZERLAND:
Blick
: »You are our European champions of hearts.
What a fight, what a morale, what a team!
This national team touched people's hearts.
It is this devotion to sport that got people excited.
Which will ensure that from today a lot of small children want to stand in the goal as Yann Sommer.
Who may even be allowed to dye their hair like Granit Xhaka. "
Tagesanzeiger
: “For many, many years, games by the Swiss national team were no guarantee of great entertainment.
But what we will experience with this team at the 2021 European Championship is great. "
NZZ
: “The Swiss footballers leave the European Championship as rebellious opponents after another moving game.
You are traveling home with the greatest treasure in recent Swiss football history: with the first quarter-finals in a finals in 67 years. "
SPAIN
Marca
: »JAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Two huge parades by Unai Simón bring us to the semifinals.
Spain did not manage to get past a draw in their weakest game so far against a heroic Switzerland.
Switzerland was a group of resistance fighters, Sommer played in legend mode. "
AS
: “The hands of a saint.
Spain are in the semi-finals thanks to Unai Simón.
Unai has such big eggs.
We have suffered, but we are on.
The penalty shoot-out was not for everyone with a weak heart. "
Sport
: »Off to the semi-finals!
Oyarzabal redeems a whole country.
Sommer wanted to turn into a black beast again, but Unai Simón won the battle against him. "
El Mundo Deportivo
: »Luxury semi-finals!
Unai Simón was the hero again.
The penalties smile at Spain. "
ITALY
Gazzetta dello Sport
: »Spain has two faces.
The midfield is at the top level, but the defense is not flawless.
You are vulnerable, the Italians have to take advantage of that in the semifinals. "
Corriere dello Sport
: "The beautiful fairy tale of the Swiss is over."
Tuttosport
: "The Swiss dream of the semi-finals is shattered by the defense of Luis Enrique's squad, which is anything but top-class."
La Repubblica
: »Happy but tired: Spain survived its own contradictions.
These immature boys sometimes play shyly and sometimes cheekily, first casually and then suddenly lazy. "
BELGIUM - ITALY (1: 2)
BELGIUM
De Standaard
: »Insigne is destroying the Belgian dream of the European Championship.
Played, fought, but lost.
After a brilliant football game, the Red Devils went down against Italy.
Melancholy in Munich.
Again not!
This should have been the year Belgium took home the coveted trophy.
Unfortunately it shouldn't be. "
Nieuwsblad
: »This generation doesn't get a lot of opportunities.
Another one, maybe.
Next year at the World Cup in Qatar.
But will it ever work?
They just weren't good enough in this crucial game. "
Grenzecho
: »Ciao, Belgium!
From the dream of the title.
After 45 minutes, all spectators and experts agreed: It was the best game of the European Championship so far.
ITALY
La Gazzetta dello Sport
: »Olé Italy.
Beat Belgium, we're back among the greats of football.
Tuesday at Wembley semi-finals against Spain.
Battle in Munich, huge Azzurri.
Magic of Barella and Insigne, super Gigio, monstrous Chiellini, the surrender of Lukaku.
Drama about Spinazzola: tears and tournament end.
Italy, you are great, great, great. "
Corriere dello Sport
: »Tell me that this is true!
A fantastic Italy in Munich: defeated Belgium, we're in the semi-finals.
Dreamlike Italy.
Sing, hug each other.
The sky over Munich is azure.
Now Italy is really starting to dream big.
The title is no longer a mirage.
La Roja trembles: now comes Italy. "
Tuttosport
: »How nice it is to be Italian!
Gate of Barella, magic of Insigne: we're going to London!
Super Donnarumma.
Chiellini, a devil between devils. "
Gazzetta dello Sport
: »Ole Italia!
In the battle against the Belgians in Munich, the Azzurri are simply fabulous.
Barella and Insigne create masterpieces, the monstrous Chiellini forces Lukaku to surrender.
We deserve this European title «.
Corriere della Sera
: »An era has come to an end in Munich, that of the catenaccio.
Mancini has created a new Italy condemning rivals to defend.
The game's intelligence won.
Mancini forces his boys to play fast. "
SPAIN
Marca
: »Italy is back.
This new Italy plays good football - but it also knows how to suffer.
The golden generation of Belgium must now wait for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. "
AS
: »This Italy is a feast for the eyes.
Playing against Italy is worse than going to the dentist. "
Sport
: "Mancini and his team's path to success continues."
El Mundo Deportivo
: "With Italy a colossus is back after being absent from the 2018 World Cup."
ngo / dpa / sid