Poland held their nerves to survive the first round of 16 match at Euro 2016, defeating Switzerland on penalties earlier tonight.
Adam Nawałka’s men were rewarded for their early attacking pressure when a masterful long throw from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski found Kamil Krosicki on the half-way line, who drove forward into the box and set the ball up for Jakub Błaszczykowski to finish.
The defensive stand-off that many critics had expected based on the sides’ respective group stage form never came to fruition – with the highest number of shots on goal recorded for a match at this tournament since the 2004 iteration. Key man Xherdan Shaqiri was once again frustrated, yet the Swiss fought to find a way back into the game until the end – with Haris Seferovic agonisingly rattling the bar in the latter stages.
The determination by both the Stoke midfielder and La Nati paid off in the 82nd minute, with Shaqiri firing an unbelievable bicycle kick into the net after a cross from Stephen Lichtsteiner that forced Euro 2016’s first knockout game into extra time.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
With no victor found in the added half-hour either, a penalty shootout was required to see who would be the first nation into the final eight. Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka was the only player to miss their attempt, as the Poles progressed in the most nervous of circumstances.
Here are some of the best reactions to come from Twitter after the result:
That moment when I turned the volume down & heard my whole town screaming. :') #SUIPOL
— ~daria (@muffin_cannibal) June 25, 2016
Poland's penalties simply sensational. #SUIPOL
— Ned Zelic (@NedZelic) June 25, 2016
Congrats #POL
Chin up #SUI
That was a great game. Awesome goal from Shaqiri. Bad luck for Xhaka who missed the penalty :')#SUIPOL #EURO2016— ϟ Rindha DM Putri (@RindhaDMPutri) June 25, 2016
A belter of a goal from #Shaqiri won many hearts. Feel for the swiss #SUIPOL #EURO2016
— Anand Aanuu (@imandyboy) June 25, 2016
Fabianski today #SUIPOL pic.twitter.com/5AB3TIZN40
— Mohamed ELNneny (@ELNnenyM) June 25, 2016
Now I know why I've always had a thing for goalkeepers #SUIPOL
— Hallie (@candytango) June 25, 2016
The Swiss were unlucky but still #Shaqiri with goal of the tournament so far #SUIPOL #EURO2016
— Sean Keyes (@TheSeanKeyes) June 25, 2016
On #suipol, gutted #sui are heading home. By far the better side by the closing stages, trying to win the game. That's how it goes #euro2016
— Guy Clarke (@guy_clarke93) June 25, 2016
Switzerland always go out of a tournament in the cruelest possible way.They deserved it more today.Poland just parked the bus. #SUIPOL
— Pankaj Barthwal (@punkajbarthwal) June 25, 2016
#Pol were the better team…deserved to go through…#SUI were flat until close to end of normal time #suipol
— Man of Justice (@SuperGops) June 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/BreatheSport/status/746729978822275073
https://twitter.com/SuziMann/status/746730603706486784
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