The Poland yet to concede in the competition Switzerland were up against it. Fortunately for them the part of Lewandowski was being played by an imposter.
He also did draw a save from Sommer with a snap shot but was otherwise a shadow of the predator who has terrorised the Bundesliga.
Shaqiri tested Lukasz Fabianski and Blaszczykowski drew a fine save from Sommer but the latter was a rare break as Poland pulled back to defend what they had. It was a mistake, inviting pressure.
Fabianski made an agile save from Ricardo Rodriguez’s free-kick but then needed Gilik to block Djourou’s goalbound shot and the crossbar to deny Haris Seferovic. Then came Shaqiri’s moment of brilliance, rising and twisting to volley home a loose ball off the post from the edge of the box.
The tournament goal of the contest was settled there and then, but not this match which went into extra time. The pace, inevitably given the afternoon heat, slowed with an uneventful first period.
In the second Switzerland looked the more likely scorers but Fabianski made a superb save from Eren Derdiyok’s header after Shaqiri picked him out, then he denied the same player as he tried to convert Seferovic’s deflected cross.
So they went for penalties. It was Poland’s first ever shoot-out. Switzerland had played and lost once previously, at the 2006 World Cup when they failed even to score from the spot.
The time they buried four out of five, but Poland, including the hitherto misfiring Lewandowski were perfect.
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