Poland beat Switzerland 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to reach the european Championship region-finals for the primary time following a riveting ultimate-16 clash that ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.
Grezgorz Krychowiak drilled inside the triumphing spot-kick after Granit Xhaka had neglected Switzerland’s second penalty to send the Polish lovers at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium into raptures.
The Poles will play Croatia or Portugal for a berth within the semis.
Jakub Blaszczykowski gave Poland a 39th-minute lead earlier than Xherdan Shaqiri equalised with a magnificent bicycle kick in the 82nd to send the healthy right into a dramatic climax.
Poland have to have gone in advance inside the first minute while Arkadiusz Milik sent his shot over a gaping intention following a calamitous defensive blend-up.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski became subdued within the first half of but his crew created possibilities way to livewire left winger Kamil Grosicki and similarly excellent paintings with the aid of Blaszczykowski on the other flank.
Swiss captain Stephan Lichsteiner could not keep up with Grosicki, who fired over the bar from 18 metres.
Blaszczykowski broke the deadlock with a composed finish from 10 metres after a darting run by way of Grosicki and a smart dummy from Milik gave the winger time and space to pick out his spot.
With playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri and striker Haris Seferovic completely stifled by using Poland’s rock-solid defence, Switzerland created little up the front inside the opening length in spite of roaring “pass Suisse” chants by way of their supporters.
The Swiss got here out with renewed purpose within the second half and Shaqiri eventually confirmed a glimpse of his substantial skills with a remarkable solo run and a stinging shot which goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski parried.
Blaszczykowski had Yann Sommer at full stretch as the tempo multiplied with Switzerland throwing guys ahead.
Shaqiri produced a second of magic with one of the exceptional dreams of the match inside the 82nd minute, twisting his body in the air to unleash a fierce shot which gave
Fabianski no danger because it went in off the post.
Galvanised by means of the intention, Switzerland took the upper hand and dominated the additional half-hour, forcing numerous desperate clearances by means of the Polish defence, which had conceded in best a further suit in 2016.
alternative Eren Derdiyok overlooked a sitter for the Swiss while Fabianski stored out his close-range header however a rattled Poland by hook or by crook hung on to pressure the shoot-out.
