User:Amakuru/Draft 3

Senegal
Senegal were drawn in Group C alongside Algeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, with all three group games to be played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. Their opening match was against Tanzania on 23 June 2019. Keita Balde gave Senegal the lead on 28 minutes with a low shot, with Krepin Diatta scoring from the edge of the penalty area in the second half to complete a 2–0 victory. Their next match, on 27 June against Algeria, was settled by a single goal scored by Algeria's Youcef Belaili on 48 minutes, after they had won the ball from Senegal in the midfield. There were a total of 52 fouls in the match, of which 34 were committed by Algeria. Senegal believed they should have won a penalty when Sadio Mané was brought down by both Adlène Guedioura and Ramy Bensebaini on 71 minutes, but the referee signalled for play to continue; Paul Doyle of the Guardian later opined that the penalty should have been given. Senegal played Kenya in the final group game on 1 July and, with both having won one game and Algeria already qualified, the winner of the game would be guaranteed to progress to the next round. A draw would also have been sufficient for Senegal. Senegal won a penalty in the first half of the game, but Mané's shot was saved by Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi. Senegal took the lead on 63 minutes when Ismaila Sarr hit the ball into the bottom-left corner of the goal following a Lamine Gassama cross. They doubled their lead eight minutes later when Mané scored following a break by Gassama. They then won another penalty on 76 minutes when Philemon Otieno fouled Sarr and was sent off. Mané scored this penalty, and Senegal won 3–0.

striker Fernando Torres opened the scoring early in the fourth minute, retaining the ball after Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne's unsuccessful tackle, before scoring from ten yards past defenceless goalkeeper Shay Given. In the 49th minute, after Given had blocked an Iniesta shot, David Silva collected the rebound and extended the Spanish lead, after nutmegging three defenders. With 20 minutes remaining, Torres scored his second goal, taking a pass from Silva and chipping the ball over Given. Fabregas scored the final goal after receiving a Silva corner and shooting from a difficult angle. Their third and final group stage match against Croatia on 18 June, proved to be more difficult, and Croatia had several goalscoring chances, notably from Ivan Strinić and Ivan Perišić, which Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas had no problems dealing with. The match looked to be heading for a draw, until the 88th minute, when substitute Jesús Navas struck the winning goal, from an Iniesta assist.

In the quarter-finals, on 23 June 2012, Spain took on France. Spain opened the goalscoring with defender Jordi Alba running to the touchline under pressure and sending a pinpoint cross to unmarked midfielder Xabi Alonso, who drove a powerful header past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Spain completed their win late in the second half with Alonso's penalty kick after France defender Anthony Réveillère brought down Pedro inside the penalty area. In the semi-finals on 27 June, Spain faced Portugal in a competitive match. Portugal pressured the Spanish "tiki-taka" possession game high up the pitch, and created several goalscoring chances. Spain managed to hold on, which required the match to go into extra time. Spain began to take control of the match with the introduction of Pedro and Fabregas, but failed to score over both halves, leading to a penalty shoot-out. Alonso, who had previously taken a penalty kick against France, had his spot kick saved by Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício. Portugal looked to take the advantage, with midfielder João Moutinho as the next penalty taker, but his strike was kept out with a diving save from Casillas. Iniesta took his penalty with precision before Portuguese defender Pepe struck his kick just past Casillas's fingertips. Defender Gerard Piqué calmly scored in the same corner of the goal as Pepe. Another defender, Bruno Alves, stepped up to take the third penalty for Portugal, but midfielder Nani encouraged Alves to let him take the penalty, which Nani struck high in the left corner of the goal after sending Casillas the wrong way. The fourth Spanish penalty was taken by defender Sergio Ramos, who chipped the ball past Rui Patrício, in the style of former Czech footballer Antonín Panenka. Portugal's fourth penalty was taken by defender Bruno Alves, who struck the crossbar with a rising shot. Spain's final penalty taker was Fàbregas, who scored Spain's fifth goal, as the ball went in via the left post. Spain emerged victorious, and headed to the UEFA European Championship final for the fourth time.