Germen league’s experience is helping Swiss Bundesliga while preparing them to face Robert Lewandowski led Poland to match happening in Euro 2016 on Saturday.
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It was perhaps understandable when a journalist from Portugal, speaking before the first round-of-16 tie, drew parallels between the struggles of his own country’s figurehead and the blanks Lewandowski had fired in three games at this European Championship. Unbeaten so far, Poland might just be the most risky team left in Euro 2016. Why?
“You don’t know me so well – I’ve scored loads of nice goals!”
Sommer did enough to nick the ball off the toe of the Bayern Munich forward but it fell to Arkadiusz Milik, who could only fire over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
“Preparing for this match, we tried to improve our penalties, and we knew they’d be taken in the best possible way”, Poland coach Adam Nawalka said through a translator.
Poland spent time preparing for a penalty shootout – and it showed.
It was arguably the goal of the tournament and the Swiss fans in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard erupted – a stark contrast to the crestfallen Polish fans who couldn’t believe what they had just seen.
A spectacular rear bicycle kick by Swiss player Xherdan Shaqiri from the penalty zone in the 82nd minute levelled the score.
His wonder-goal has certainly hushed the haters, and surely be the leading favourite for goal of the tournament at Euro 2016.
Krychowiak also missed out on a great chance with his header going out after being set up by Blaszczykowski.
Robert Lewandowski’s troubles in front of the goal continued.
And he’s at it again today with a stupendous scissor kick for Switzerland against Poland.
With playmaker Shaqiri and striker Haris Seferovic stifled by Poland’s solid defence, Switzerland created little in the opening period but they came out with renewed objective after the interval.
Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said he felt for Xhaka – but that the defeat hurt more. Neither he nor replacement Breel Embolo has scored so far at the tournament.
Experienced full-back Lukasz Piszczek came in on the right of defence, with Krzysztof Maczynski, Kamil Grosickin and Blaszczykowski all starting in midfield.
Switzerland: Yann Sommer, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schaer, Johan Djourou, Ricardo Rodriguez, Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Blerim Dzemaili, Admir Mehmedi, Haris Seferovic.
Switzerland and Poland have both qualified for the knockout phase of a European Championship finals for the first time.
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The federation says the tests were conducted “without any incidents”.
