Spain is in the quarter-finals of the European Championship for the seventh time in history. This Monday, Luis Enrique’s team beat Croatia by 5-3, after extra time, stamping access to the next phase of the Euro-2020 in a game of madmen.
In Copenhagen, the Croatians, deprived of Ivan Perisic (Covid-19), took the lead, benefiting from an unbelievable error by Unai Simón. After a late pass from Pedri, the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper missed the ball and let it slip into the back of the net in the 20th minute.
Spain, who had already benefited from two clear chances, returned to the charge and equalized even before the break, through Pablo Sarabia, in the 38.
In the second half, at 57’, Roja completed the comeback, with César Azpilicueta heading in, giving the best follow-up to Ferrán Torres’ cross from the left side. At 77’, the Manchester City player made it 3-1 and seemed to have sentenced the match, but Croatia found strength and would draw. At 85’, in an insistence move, Orsic made the 2-3 and Mario Pasalic, in the second minute of added time, signed the 3-3 and drove the Croatian fans crazy, forcing extra time at Parken.
In a madcap meeting, the Spaniards would eventually outdo themselves in overtime. At 100’, Álvaro Morata, much criticized in recent weeks for his gray displays, fired left-footed for the best goal of the afternoon and Mikel Oyarzabal, at 103’, closed the result 5-3 for Spain.
🇪🇸 Spain = quarter-finalists! 👏
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ First team in EURO history to score 5 goals in consecutive games!
ℹ️ Second-highest scoring EURO game ever#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/RwdXnQj0vL
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 28, 2021
