Spain, Friday, qualified for semi finals in the ongoing EURO 2020 soccer tournament after downing the engine of Switzerland 1-3 on penalties’ shoot-out.
Zakaria was only in the team in place of the suspended Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka.
Spain shot themselves in the foot in the second half when a defensive mix-up between Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres gifted an equaliser to Xherdan Shaqiri on 68 minutes.
The explosive encounter which went into full time ended in draw after extra time, resulting in the penalty shoot-out.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winning penalty in the shootout to break Swiss hearts.
Spain will play either Italy or Belgium in the first semi-final at Wembley next Tuesday.
Spain had earlier gone ahead after just eight minutes when a shot from Jordi Alba from distance took a huge deflection off Denis Zakaria and past the helpless Yann Sommer.
Switzerland were reduced to 10 men on 78 minutes when Remo Freuler was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Gerard Moreno.
Moreno wasted a glorious chance in the first half of extra time and Spain missed several good opportunities to win the game
Luis Enrique, Spain coach observed, “We faced Switzerland knowing their level and their capacity. The opponents didn’t press us as high as they might have. The game went into a dangerous phase at 1-0, and they were building good breaks. But from the red card the game changed around completely – we dominated, were dangerous and created chances.”
“I’ve said from the outset that we are one of the seven or eight teams which, no exaggeration, could win this trophy – now we’re one of four.
“That was the most tranquil penalty shoot-out I’ve ever been through because we’d done all our homework, all our practice and there was nothing left for the staff and me to do,” he said.
Vladimir Petković, the Switzerland coach, noted “I have mixed feelings. I have pride – we can all be so proud. We leave here with our heads held high. On the other hand, we were so close to the semi-final, and that doesn’t happen often. I have more positive than negative feelings.”
“My players were the heroes of the night. We would have deserved to go to the semi-final.”
Petković added “Congratulations to Spain. They tried everything and in the end won on penalties. I am very proud of my team, and all the players.”
