UEFA Euro 2020 Highlights France vs Switzerland: Switzerland pull off a massive upset against world champions France as they win 5-4 on penalties to make the quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappe missed the fifth French penalty to give Switzerland the win.
Story of the Match: Mbappe missed the fifth penalty after Pogba, Giroud, Thuram and Kimpembe scored for France. For Switzerland, all of Gavranovic, Fabian Schar, Akanji, Vargas and Mehmedi scored. Neither team could score in extra time and we are going into the penalties. Gavranovic’s last-minute equaliser helped Switzerland take the game into extra time against world champions France. What a dramatic second half after Seferovic’s goal was the difference at half time. Rodriguez missed a penalty and the chance to make it 2-0 for Switzerland. Soon after that, Benzema scored a brace to give France the lead. Paul Pogba then scored an absolute stunner to increase France’s lead but Switzerland did not stop fighting. Seferovic scored his second to pull one back for Switzerland. Gavranovic was then flagged offside for a goal but he wasn’t to be denied as he scored in the 90th minute to draw Switzerland level. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Kingsley Coman’s strike hit the bar and from there, we go on for 30 more minutes.
France and Switzerland played their last 16 fixture at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest, Romania. World Cup holders France were one of the pre-tournament favourites to take the championship.
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France have so far struggled to find their best form in this competition after following a narrow opening win over Germany with draws against Hungary and Portugal. Kylian Mbappe has not yet found the net and coach Didier Deschamps has been hit by injuries to a number of fringe members of his team, but Les Bleus are still expected to have too much for their Swiss neighbours in the Romanian capital.
Switzerland, who qualified for the last 16 as one of the best third-placed sides, have not won a knockout tie at a major tournament since the 1930s and it would be an enormous shock if they ousted the defending world champions.
A depleted France will draw motivation from the threat of elimination, captain Hugo Lloris said on Sunday. While Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Thuram are unavailable, Deschamps confirmed full backs Jules Kounde and Lucas Digne are also ruled out against the Swiss. Left back Lucas Hernandez, who injured his knee, has a chance to feature.
Speaking at a news conference, goalkeeper Lloris said France — who finished runners-up in 2016 — were accustomed to do-or-die situations and thrived under pressure.
“We can use this as motivation,” Lloris said of the threat of elimination. “We are already a team of competitors. We don’t like to lose and when we know we can be going home, we are even stronger.”
Lloris added that it was essential for France to remain focused against Switzerland.
“We are approaching this like a completely different competition,” the goalkeeper said. “We know we can’t make any mistakes.
“We know the mental aspect (of the game) will play a role. This is certainly the key to our success.”
With Hernandez and Digne both going off injured in their final group game against Portugal, Deschamps said a three-man defence he deployed in the UEFA Nations League last year was also an option but he kept his cards close to his chest.
“This is an option, of course, which may or may not be taken,” he said. “But if I did it … I am not going to tell you now.”
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