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TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 Spain prevail in extra-time epic with Croatia to reach Euro 2020 last eight : Spain reached the who was selected by quarter-finals of Euro 2020 yesterday despite poor form in the group stage after an epic 5-3 extra-time win over which led to abuse by Spain fans of him Croatia which sets up a potential and his family, saw his point-blank mouth-watering clash with world range header blocked by Domagoj champions France. Vida. Almost immediately afterwards Spain had looked to be cruising into disaster struck for Spain through the quarter-finals at the ’s own goal, which came after in Copenhagen thanks to goals from goalkeeper Unai Simon allowed his , Cesar Azpilicueta and bobbling backpass to bounce over his which had put Luis foot and gently roll into the net. From Enrique’s side 3-1 ahead with 13 min- nowhere Croatia all of a sudden had utes remaining in normal time. their tails up and Nikola Vlasic and However substitute Mislav Orsic Mateo Kovacic both fired off efforts pulled one back following a chaotic which troubled Simon even though they goalmouth scramble in the 85th minute didn’t hit the target. and then supplied the cross from which Mario Pasalic headed Croatia level in Croatia fightback the second minute of stoppage time to Spain were rattled by the opening take the match to the additional half- goal but quickly recovered to carry on hour. Spain eventually prevailed-after dominating the ball and got a deserved some scares-in a thrilling contest with a leveler seven minutes before the break fine finish from under-fire forward through the enterprising Sarabia, who Alvaro Morata and ’s lashed home on the rebound after Jose breakaway strike giving Luis Enrique’s Gaya’s shot was well saved by Croatia side the win their overall play deserved. goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Spain had not won a major tourna- The second half got off to a slower ment knockout match since thrashing start but Croatia continued to offer lit- Italy in the Euro 2012 final but progress tle and Spain had the lead in the 57th COPENHAGEN: Spain’s forward Alvaro Morata attempts to score next to Croatia’s defender Duje Caleta-Car (right) during the Euro to a showdown with either the French minute through Azpilicueta, who could- 2020 round of 16 football match between Croatia and Spain at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. -— AFP or Switzerland on Friday that is set to n’t miss with his close-range header be played in Saint Petersburg despite from Ferran Torres’ well-flighted cross The Manchester City attacker per- in the Spain penalty area. And then he deftly controlled ’s cross concerns about increasing coronavirus after a burst into the area from the fectly read the flight of substitute Pau with time running out for Croatia the and lashed a rocket of a shot past cases in Russia. impressive Pedri. Torres’ raking long pass from near the stands erupted as Pasalic met fellow Livakovic. Spain should have been a goal ahead Simon made up for his earlier howler halfway line to the edge of Croatia’s substitute Orsic’s cross to take a match Oyarzabal then finally made sure of in the 16th minute when Koke was put in the 67th minute when he got down area, and he easily swept past Gvardiol which had previously looked dead to Spain’s passage into the quarters three clean through by an inch-perfect Pedri low very quickly to keep out Josko before slotting home a calm finish. extra time. It was Croatia who were ini- minutes later thanks to another superb pass, but with the goal at his mercy the Gvardiol’s close-range shot at his near With the match looking as good as tially the more threatening after the Olmo cross which allowed the Real Atletico man could only shoot post. And with 13 minutes remaining over Orsic sparked the large Croatian restart but Morata, who had up to then Sociedad playmaker to rattle home a straight at Livakovic. Torres put Spain two ahead with a support in the Parken back to life when looked lost up front, put Spain back in close-range finish and definitively put Then three minutes later Morata, classy piece of finishing. he prodded home following confusion front nine minutes into extra time when the tie to bed. — AFP