World Champions, France bid farewell to Euro 2020 in a shocking defeat to Switzerland
Switzerland sent the world of football into a frenzy as they beat France 5-4 on penalties, thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s saved spot-kick, in their Euro 2020 last 16 games to set up a quarter-final clash against Spain.
Without any doubt, the Swiss were the underdogs heading into the game. Still, they went on to produce a thrilling performance in what was nothing but an epic European Championship game.
In what can only be described as 90 minutes of madness, Haris Seferovic put the Swiss ahead, Hugo Lloris save a penalty, denying them a 2-0 lead. Karim Benzema scored twice the world champions France, and Paul Pogba put France 3-1 up with a belter.
On a good day, that would have been enough to see Didier Deschamps’ men through. Still, it wasn’t a good day as Seferovic headed in his second goal of the game for Switzerland before substitute, Mario Gavranovic, fired in a last-minute equaliser to send the game to extra time, leaving their fans wild emotions.
Players from both sides made no mistake from the spot until Paris St-Germain forward, Mbappe, who missed a couple of chances during regulation time, had his penalty saved by Yann Sommer, as the Swiss progressed from a significant tournament knockout game for the first time since 1938.
Switzerland will play Spain, who also came through a scintillating, 5-3 after an extra-time win against Croatia, in the quarter-final in St Petersburg on Friday.
