Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two penalty kicks as Spain defeated Switzerland 3-1 in a shootout on Friday to secure a place in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
Spain prevailed in the shootout as Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner after Simon had saved from Fabian Schaer and Manuel Akanji.
Ruben Vargas had fired high for the Swiss in the quarter-final game played in St Petersburg.
Spain’s Sergio Busquets and Rodri also failed to score in the shootout but Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo and Gerard Moreno beat Yann Sommer.
The score was locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes of play.
The 2008 and 2012 champions Spain took an early lead in the eighth minute, thanks to an own goal by Denias Zakaria who deflected a half-volley from Jordi Alba.
The Spanish side failed to convert the few chances they created and saw Switzerland equalise in the 68th minute.
Stand-in captain Xherdan Shaqiri swept his effort into the net after a mix-up at the Spanish defence.
Shortly after the goal, Switzerland were, however, reduced to 10 men as Remo Freuler saw a red card for a foul on Moreno.
The game went into extra-time and Spain were naturally the most attacking team, but were stopped by Sommer who had a brilliant performance.
Spain move into a Tuesday semi-final at Wembley against Italy who defeated Belgium 2-1.
Switzerland on the other hand have bowed out after a second shootout, having beaten world champions France from the penalty kicks spot in the last 16.
“Football has been fair, and we are deservedly winners. You have to quickly erase the errors but also forget this triumph because we face a tough rival in the next match,” said Simon.
He had made a massive blunder in the last 16 win over Croatia when he failed to control a backpass from pedri which went in.
Oyarzabal, speaking on his kick in the shootout, said: “You couldn’t miss it, and luckily it went in. On the way there, a lot of things go through your head and on top of that the ball was far away. But I had it clear to me.”
The Spaniards had broken the deadlock in the match with the 10th own goal at the Euro 2020.
Koke found Jordi Alba through the crowded penalty area and he sent a half-volley towards the goal.
Zakaria stuck out his leg to prevent the ball from falling into the net, but only diverted it past Sommer.
Koke himself had a powerful free-kick that could have extended the Spanish lead, but his effort went just over the bar.
Spain then had a lot of possession but since the goal not a lot of threat.
After the break, a mix-up between Laporte and Pau Torres left the ball to Freuler, and he fed it to Shaqiri to send a right-footed kick into the far corner.
Celebrations, however, didn’t last long as Freuler got his marching orders.
But Sommer kept them in the game against a pressing Spain side in extra time.
The goalkeeper was superb to deny Moreno from close range with a left foot effort in what was the best chance of extra time.
“I’m so proud of the team, what we’ve achieved here with the whole country behind us,” Sommer said.
Busquets opened the shootout hitting the post and Mario Gavranovic put Switzerland ahead, but Spain overcame the bad start thanks to the saves by Simon and moved to the semi-finals.
Shaqiri, who was substituted before extra time, said: “We just lacked a bit of luck today.”
But he was also “really proud” of the team.
Italy underlined their status as Euro 2020 contenders again on Friday with a 2-1 victory over world ranking leaders Belgium in an exciting quarter-final match.
Nicolo Barella in the 31st minute and Lorenzo Insigne 13 minutes later were on target for the Azzurri who extended a national record of unbeaten matches to 32.
Belgium were on target from Romelu Lukaku from a penalty kick but their golden generation once again failed to go all the way for a first major title for the nation.
Italy now face Spain in the semi-finals in Tuesday at Wembley for a place in the final at the famed London arena on July 11.
Spain had beaten Switzerland on penalty kicks earlier on Friday.
Spain thrashed Italy 4-0 in the 2012 final but Italy got a revenge of sorts 2-0 in the last 16 in 2016 with a tactical masterclass.
Roberto Mancini’s men will hope for the same this time around.
Now they seemed back on track with a performance vastly improved compared to their narrow last-16 extra time win over Austria and more in line with their three group stage wins.
“We were deserved winners. The lads were really good and we could have scored more goals,” Mancini said.
“We had no minimal goal for the tournament, we wanted to achieve as much as possible. There are two more games and we will see what happens.”
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: “This hits hard but we knew it was going to be a tough game.
“I think we gave the first goal away a bit to easily. It really could have gone either way, but Italy also deserved to win here.”
Injured Belgium captain Eden Hazard lost a race against time and was not even in the squad.
Teenager Jeremy Doku coming on in his place, while Kevin de Bruyne was able to play in spite of an ankle problem.
Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini returned from a muscle injury and Federico Chiesa also started for the Azzurri.
Belgium dominated the early minutes but the ball was in their net first in the 13th minute, with Chiellini, however, ruled offside in a video review.
Italy had scored when Chiellini flicked on to Leonardo Bonucci to score off a free-kick.
At the other end, Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to a first big save by a curling shot from de Bruyne, and minutes later against Lukaku as well on a Belgian counter.
The ball was in the Belgian net again in the 31st minute and this time it counted.
Barella shot into the far left corner after Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen failed to clear decisively.
And Insigne curled into the right corner for 2-0 in the 44th minute after a well-executed move with lots of possession.
Belgium got a lifeline before the break from Lukaku’s penalty kick, with the decision after Giovanni di Lorenzo’s shove against the lively Doku appearing very harsh.
Lukaku incredibly hit the ball against the thigh of Leonardo Spinazzola from point-blank range in a fast attack, and Belgium threatened again from Nacer Chadli seconds after he came on.
But Chadli only lasted two more minutes before limping off injured, and Spinazzola was taken away on a stretcher with what appeared to be a grave Achilles injury.
Doku fired high from long range with some 10 minutes left as Belgium failed to get the equaliser in a hectic finale.
Italy can now continue dreaming of getting a second title after that from 1968.
