Simon Saves Lift Spain Past Swiss to Reach Semi-Finals
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SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021 11 Leicester sign Soumare from Lille AFP | London Simon saves lift Spain past eicester signed Boubakary LSoumare from French champions Lille yesterday in a deal worth a reported £17 million (23 million euros). French midfielder Soumare Swiss to reach semi-finals agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club. “I’m really proud to come to Spain reach Euro last four with penalties win over Switzerland the Premier League and a big club like Leicester. It’s going to really help me to develop my Switzerland game and progress as a player, Boubakary Soumare • so I feel it is the right step for withstood the mother of me,” Soumare told Leicester’s what they wanted from me, I all sieges despite being website. knew straight away I wanted down to 10 men for KNOW WHAT “Leicester is a very ambi- to come. over 40 minutes, only tious club. When they spoke “I really am so proud and to me about their plans and honoured to be here and I will to go out on penalties give my all for the team and After scoring 10 goals club to make everyone happy.” AFP | London in their previous two Soumare, 22, made his Lille matches, this was a debut in 2017 and made 112 oalkeeper Unai Simon return to the type of Leicester is a very appearances, scoring once. was the hero as Spain ambitious club. When He has appeared for France at edged past 10-man profligate performanc- G es which saw Spain they spoke to me about every age group from Under-16 Switzerland 3-1 on penalties on their plans and what to Under-21. Friday to set up a Euro 2020 draw their first two they wanted from me, He is Leicester’s second semi-final against either Bel- group games against I knew straight away I close-season signing after gium or Italy. Spain’s players celebrate after winning the penalty shoot out Sweden and Poland wanted to come Zambia striker Patson Daka After a 1-1 draw in Saint Pe- joined from RB Salzburg for tersburg which saw the Swiss missed for a tackle on Gerard Spain draw their first two group Silvan Widmer headed off tar- BOUBAKARY SOUMARE £23 million this week. play for 43 minutes a man down, Moreno. games against Sweden and Po- get from a corner, before Steven Simon made two saves in the Switzerland goalkeeper Yann land. Zuber thought he had won a shoot-out to help keep Spain’s Sommer, the hero of the pen- But the 2008 and 2012 win- penalty only to be flagged off- Today’s games bid for a record fourth Europe- alty shoot-out win over world ners had made a dream start side. an crown alive. champions France in the last to this quarter-final, taking the Spain coach Luis Enrique sent Euro 2020 It was heartbreak for Swit- 16, made a string of fine saves lead in fortunate circumstances on Dani Olmo for Pablo Sarabia QF3: Czech Republic vs Denmark (18:00, Baku) zerland, who were bidding for in extra time. in only the eighth minute. at half-time and the RB Leipzig reach the semi-finals of a major But Simon saved from Fabi- A corner was cleared only man threatened inside 60 sec- QF4: Ukraine vs England (21:00, Rome) tournament for the first time in an Schaer and Manuel Akanji, as far as Jordi Alba, whose onds, seeing his low volley well Tomorrow’s games their history. while Ruben Vargas blazed over left-footed volley was diverted held by Sommer. Spain forged ahead early on in a tense finale as Spain snuck past Sommer by Switzerland Zakaria came agonisingly Copa America when Denis Zakaria put through through, with Mikel Oyarzabal midfielder Zakaria, only playing close to making up for his ear- in place of Xhaka. Uruguay vs Colombia (00:00, Brasilia) his own net, but Switzerland smashing home the winning lier own goal when his header were the better side for long spot-kick. It was the 10th own goal of span narrowly wide. Argentina vs Ecuador (03:00, Goiania) periods and Xherdan Shaqiri, Luis Enrique’s men will take Euro 2020, more than the other Switzerland had an even bet- standing in for the suspended on either Belgium or Italy, who 15 editions combined. ter chance for a leveller in the Results Granit Xhaka as captain, equal- meet in Munich later Friday, at Alvaro Morata wasted an ex- 64th minute, as Shaqiri sparked EURO 2020 *Scores as of closing ised in the 68th minute. Wembley on Tuesday. cellent opportunity by head- a quick counter-attack which The Swiss were reduced to 10 After scoring 10 goals in their ing too close to Sommer when ended with Spain goalkeeper Switzerland 1 1 Spain men with 13 minutes remaining, previous two matches, this was unmarked, but then Switzer- Unai Simon reacting well to Spain win 3-1 on penalties though, when midfielder Remo a return to the type of profli - land started to grow into the keep out Zuber’s stabbed effort Belgium 1 2 Italy Freuler was controversially dis- gate performances which saw game. at his near post. Juan Mata agrees new one-year deal at Man Utd Laporta says Barcelona talks AFP | London with Messi ‘progressing’ uan Mata has signed a new Jone-year deal with Man- chester United to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2022, the Premier League club an - 51 nounced yesterday. goals were scored by Juan The 33-year-old Spain inter- Mata 273 in appearances national joined from Chelsea for United in 2014 and has made 273 ap- pearances for United, scoring 51 goals. “Dubbed a magician on the “The World Cup winner’s in- pitch and a gentleman off it, Juan Mata reacts during a match (file photo) fluence on Ole Gunnar Solsk- Mata has become one of the United history and he is highly mates,” the club said in a state- jaer’s young, improving squad most popular players in recent respected by all of his team- ment. is invaluable.” Atletico’s Felix likely to be out for two months after ankle surgery Lionel Messi reacts during a match (file photo) AFP | Barcelona AFP | Madrid tletico Madrid striker Joao arcelona’s contract nego- We want him to stay, AFelix underwent right an- BETTER Btiations with Lionel Messi Leo wants to stay kle surgery in Porto yesterday, “are progressing as expected”, and we are looking his club said in a statement. club president Joan Laporta for the best formula. The striker could be out for KNOW told Spanish public television We would like it to two months Spanish media re- yesterday. ported. The Argentine superstar, be concluded as The 21-year-old, who ap - Felix now has several who is currently at the Copa quickly as possible peared as a substitute in Portu- weeks off after having America, became a free agent but we know it will gal’s 1-0 loss to Belgium at Euro participated in Euro on Thursday when his last take time 2020, has been in pain since contract with Barcelona ex- JOAN LAPORTA December when he fractured 2020 before he begins pired. his foot. to take the first steps “We want him to stay, Leo to leave last August, citing a “Joao Felix was operated on in his recovery wants to stay and we are look- clause in his contract and a his right ankle by Professor ing for the best formula,” said club that had had “no project Niek van Dijk, from the Uni- lix, who joined the club from Laporta. or anything for a long time”. versity of Amsterdam,” said At- Benfica for 127 million euros “We would like it to be con- He has inevitably been letico yesterday. in 2019, will be out of action cluded as quickly as possible linked with a series of possible “The surgery was per - Portugal’s forward Joao Felix reacts during a match (file photo) but the Spanish press is re - but we know it will take time.” moves, from Manchester City formed this morning in Porto, medical services of Atletico The Spanish champions have porting a two-month recovery Messi, 34, joined Barcelo- and Paris St-Germain to David under the supervision of the Madrid.” not specified how long Fe - time. na as a 13-year-old but tried Beckham’s Inter Miami..