<div>Poland beat Switzerland 5-4 in a shootout to reach their first European Championship quarter-final as a riveting clash ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday following a brilliant late equaliser by Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri.<br /><br />Grezgorz Krychowiak drilled in the winning spot-kick after Granit Xhaka had missed Switzerland's second penalty to send the Polish fans at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium into raptures.<br /><br />The Poles will meet Croatia or Portugal, who play later on Saturday, for a berth in the semis.<br /><br />Jakub Blaszczykowski had given Poland a 39th-minute lead before Shaqiri levelled with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 82nd to send the contest into a dramatic climax.<br /><br />"We were prepared for this kind of battle," Poland coach Adam Nawalka said. "The Swiss are a world class side and it was no surprise that they came storming back in the second half.<br /><br />"But the important thing is that my team showed potential after conceding the equaliser. We are mentally prepared for the quarter-final match in Marseille on Thursday."<br /><br />Man of the match Shaqiri, who was superb in the second half and extra time, said the goal meant little after a painful loss.<br /><br />"It's a great disappointment, we could have achieved something very big," the 24-year old forward told a news conference.<br /><br />"It was a beautiful goal and I am always proud to score for my country, but we are out."<br /><br />GAPING GOAL<br /><br />Poland dominated the first half and should have gone ahead inside the first minute when Arkadiusz Milik sent his shot over a gaping goal following a calamitous defensive mix-up.<br /><br />With striker Robert Lewandowski subdued, the Poles created had to rely on chances created by livewire left winger Kamil Grosicki and the impressive Blaszczykowski on the other flank.<br /><br />Switzerland captain Stephan Lichsteiner could not keep up with Grosicki, who fired over the bar from 18 metres after a clever run through the middle.<br /><br />Blaszczykowski broke the deadlock with a composed finish from 10 metres after a darting run by Grosicki and a dummy from Milik gave the winger time and space to pick his spot.<br /><br />With Shaqiri and striker Haris Seferovic stifled by Poland's rock-solid defence, the Swiss created little in the opening period despite roaring "Go Suisse" chants by their supporters.<br /><br />They came out with renewed purpose in the second half and Shaqiri finally showed a glimpse of his talent with a dazzling solo run and a stinging shot which Lukasz Fabianski parried.<br /><br />Blaszczykowski had Yann Sommer at full stretch as the pace increased with Switzerland throwing men forward.<br /><br />Shaqiri produced a moment of magic with one of the best goals of the tournament in the 82nd minute, twisting his body in the air to unleash a fierce shot which gave Fabianski no chance as it went in off the post.<br /><br />Galvanised by the goal, Switzerland took the upper hand and dominated extra time, forcing several desperate clearances by a defence which had conceded in only one other match in 2016.<br /><br />Substitute Eren Derdiyok missed a sitter for the Swiss when Fabianski kept out his close-range header and they paid the price as a rattled Poland held on to force the shootout.</div>
<div>Poland beat Switzerland 5-4 in a shootout to reach their first European Championship quarter-final as a riveting clash ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday following a brilliant late equaliser by Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri.<br /><br />Grezgorz Krychowiak drilled in the winning spot-kick after Granit Xhaka had missed Switzerland's second penalty to send the Polish fans at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium into raptures.<br /><br />The Poles will meet Croatia or Portugal, who play later on Saturday, for a berth in the semis.<br /><br />Jakub Blaszczykowski had given Poland a 39th-minute lead before Shaqiri levelled with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 82nd to send the contest into a dramatic climax.<br /><br />"We were prepared for this kind of battle," Poland coach Adam Nawalka said. "The Swiss are a world class side and it was no surprise that they came storming back in the second half.<br /><br />"But the important thing is that my team showed potential after conceding the equaliser. We are mentally prepared for the quarter-final match in Marseille on Thursday."<br /><br />Man of the match Shaqiri, who was superb in the second half and extra time, said the goal meant little after a painful loss.<br /><br />"It's a great disappointment, we could have achieved something very big," the 24-year old forward told a news conference.<br /><br />"It was a beautiful goal and I am always proud to score for my country, but we are out."<br /><br />GAPING GOAL<br /><br />Poland dominated the first half and should have gone ahead inside the first minute when Arkadiusz Milik sent his shot over a gaping goal following a calamitous defensive mix-up.<br /><br />With striker Robert Lewandowski subdued, the Poles created had to rely on chances created by livewire left winger Kamil Grosicki and the impressive Blaszczykowski on the other flank.<br /><br />Switzerland captain Stephan Lichsteiner could not keep up with Grosicki, who fired over the bar from 18 metres after a clever run through the middle.<br /><br />Blaszczykowski broke the deadlock with a composed finish from 10 metres after a darting run by Grosicki and a dummy from Milik gave the winger time and space to pick his spot.<br /><br />With Shaqiri and striker Haris Seferovic stifled by Poland's rock-solid defence, the Swiss created little in the opening period despite roaring "Go Suisse" chants by their supporters.<br /><br />They came out with renewed purpose in the second half and Shaqiri finally showed a glimpse of his talent with a dazzling solo run and a stinging shot which Lukasz Fabianski parried.<br /><br />Blaszczykowski had Yann Sommer at full stretch as the pace increased with Switzerland throwing men forward.<br /><br />Shaqiri produced a moment of magic with one of the best goals of the tournament in the 82nd minute, twisting his body in the air to unleash a fierce shot which gave Fabianski no chance as it went in off the post.<br /><br />Galvanised by the goal, Switzerland took the upper hand and dominated extra time, forcing several desperate clearances by a defence which had conceded in only one other match in 2016.<br /><br />Substitute Eren Derdiyok missed a sitter for the Swiss when Fabianski kept out his close-range header and they paid the price as a rattled Poland held on to force the shootout.</div>