20:38
It was also the Swiss offensive that Spain coach Santi Denia explicitly warned about in advance. “They attack very well and have very attacking players. They are a team that really wants to play,” said the 49-year-old. “We have to show our best game and definitely improve compared to the first three games,” the Spaniard demanded of his team.
20:29
Even if the progress was ultimately fortunate, it was not undeserved. Because Patrick Framework’s eleven showed good football both in the success against Norway and in the narrow defeat against the strong Italians and sold at a high price. Above all, the offensive to Kastriot Imeri and Dan Ndoye (both already two goals) and Zeki Amdouni convinced. Darmstadt’s Filip Stojilković, who scored three goals in 15 games for the Lilies in the second half of the season, is on the bench, just like he was against France.
20:16
While the Iberians confidently made it into the quarter-finals, Switzerland’s progress is a miracle. After beating Norway (2-1) and losing to Italy (2-3), the Swiss were on three points before the duel with France. In the event of a defeat against the favored French, it was clear that only if Norway beat Italy exactly 1-0 would there be a situation where three teams are tied and have the same goal difference, but Switzerland then because of the most goals scored would be further. France outplayed Switzerland 4-1 and since Norway actually won 1-0 in the parallel game, the Swiss now play against Spain tonight.
20:11
The Spaniards had been treated as one of the absolute top favorites in the run-up to the tournament and have presented themselves as such so far. The victories against Romania (3-0) and Croatia (1-0) meant that progress was bagged after just two games before there was a 2-2 draw against Ukraine at the end of the group. Coach Santi Denia’s team is led by captain Abel Ruiz. The attacker from Portuguese first division club SC Braga has already scored twice. In midfield, Athletic Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet and Real Madrid’s Blanco pull the strings. Juan Miranda, who played for FC Schalke 04 in 2019/20, brings Bundesliga experience with him.
20:00
Hello and welcome to the second quarter-finals of the U-21 European Championship 2023! Spain meets Switzerland at 9pm at Bucharest’s Giulesti Stadium.