Xhaka miss send Poland to Semi

Jakob Blaszczykowski proved again he has the
midas touch for Poland as the Borussia

Dortmund winger gave his side a first-half lead in
the last-16 clash.
Xherdan Shaqiri's spectacular second-half
bicycle kick levelled for Switzerland and with the
scores 1-1 after extra time, the clash at Saint-
Etienne's Stade Geoffrey Guichard went into
penalties.
Xhaka, who will join the Gunners after the
European Championship finals, sent Switzerland's
second penalty wide while Poland nailed all five
kicks.
Blaszczykowski, nicknamed 'Kuba', then drilled
home Poland's fourth shot and his nation was
sent into delirium when Grzegorz Krychowiak
nailed the crucial fifth kick.
Poland have not reached the quarter-final of a
major tournament since the 1982 World Cup.
And the result meant Poland preserved their
record of never having lost in 18 games when
Blaszczykowski has scored.
"Let's hope it continues until the final," the
scorer said.
"It was the most difficult match so far. The
Swiss made life hard for us," said
Blaszczykowski, who spent last season on loan
at Fiorentina.
"We dragged it out of their hands.
"I'm delighted, it was a historic moment for us,
because we are in the top eight in Europe."
The Poles will now play Portugal or Croatia in
the quarter-finals in Marseille on Thursday.
Shaqiri said Xhaka will bounce back after his
crushing disappointment.
"I think Granit is very professional and he can
cope with it," said man-of-the-match Shaqiri.
"He’s disappointed, but that’s football and
mistakes can happen."
It was a historic occasion for both sides as
neither had previously reached the knockout
stages of a Euro finals.
Despite his success in converting in the penalty
shootout, Robert Lewandowski, the top scorer in
qualifying with 13 goals, remains without a
regular goal in France.
The Bayern Munich striker constantly dropped
back into midfield to run Poland's attack.
The Poles dominated the first half, while the
Swiss ruled the second.
Poland squandered a gold-plated chance in the
opening minute as a lazy pass from Swiss full-
back Johan Djourou fell into Lewandowski's path.
The star striker enticed Swiss goalkeeper Yann
Sommer off his line, but Arkadiusz Milik fired
over with the goal at his mercy.
At the other end, Blerim Dzemaili, then Admir
Mehmedi had chances for the Swiss before
Fabian Schaer headed straight at Lukasz
Fabianski.
After creating their fair share of chances, Poland
finally went ahead when Kamil Grosicki broke
down the left from a Swiss corner.
His pass found Blaszczykowski unmarked at the
far post and the winger drove his shot home on
39 minutes.
The Swiss grabbed the game by the scruff of
the neck as they hunted a second-half equaliser.
They camped in the Poland half for long spells
with goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski under constant
siege.
In a bid to boost their attacking options, Swiss
coach Vladimir Petkovic switched to two strikers
for the last 30 minutes.
He put Breel Embolo on for attacking midfielder
Blerim Dzemaili and the move paid off.
A free-kick by Swiss dead-ball expert Ricardo
Rodriguez was heading for the top right-hand
corner until Fabianski's glove intervened with 15
minutes left.
Swiss striker Haris Seferovic had his head in his
hands when his shot hit the crossbar.
But Shaqiri's brilliant left-footed effort, just inside
the post in the 82nd minute, gave Fabianski no
chance, as the Swiss drew level.
When extra-time started, Swiss substitute Eren
Derdiyok, who was playing in attack alongside
Shaqiri twice tested Fabianski as the Nati
chased a winner.
Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said he felt for
Xhaka, but the defeat hurt more.
"I’m very sad for him, but it’s not just about him,
it’s disappointing as the Swiss players gave
everything," said Petkovic.
"We weren’t clinical enough and as a result of
the lottery of the penalty shoot-out, if you miss
one, it can be crucial."