MUSCAT DAILY
Bucharest, Romania - Switzerland defeated world champions France 5-4 on penalties in the last-16 of Euro 2020 on Monday as Kylian Mbappe missed the decisive spotkick in the shootout following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Bucharest.
Mario Gavranovic equalised in the 90th minute as Switzerland came from two goals down before Yann Sommer saved Mbappe's penalty to book Switzerland a quarterfinal clash against Spain.
"It was an incredible evening. I am so proud of the team," said goalkeeper Sommer. "At 3-1 nobody believed in us anymore, but before the match we said we'll fight until the end whatever happens."
Haris Seferovic had given Vladimir Petkovic's Switzerland a shock lead on 15 minutes but Ricardo Rodriguez's spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Hugo Lloris early in the second half.
Karim Benzema, recalled to the France squad for the tournament after a five-and-a-half-year international exile, then struck a quick-fire double to put the Euro 2016 finalists back on track.
Paul Pogba's sensational curling effort made it 3-1, but Switzerland forced extra time as Seferovic grabbed his second of the game before
Gavranovic levelled in the final minute.
Switzerland converted all five of their penalties before Sommer dived to his right to turn away Mbappe's kick, as the Swiss won a major tournament knockout tie for first time in 83 years.
"The two goals came very quickly after the missed penalty. For normal players it's almost impossible to come back from, but today we were a great team and everyone gave it everything," said Petkovic.
Lloris conceded France paid the price for failing to hold on to their two-goal lead. "It's painful, even more so after a penalty shootout where it
(5-4 penalties) becomes a lottery," said Lloris.
"The only regret we can have is that at 3-1 we need to manage the match better. We've been able to close it out in the past few years."
"The Swiss got back into it at 3-2 and the goal in the last minute of normal time really hurt us," he added.
An ailing Benzema was withdrawn at the start of extra-time for Olivier Giroud, moments before Sommer tipped over superbly to deny Pavard. Pogba released Mbappe with a piercing pass through the Swiss defence but the
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward sliced wide, with Sommer flying to his right to grasp Giroud's header before his penalty heroics, which came at the expense of the star of France's World Cup triumph in 2018.
France had not lost a competitive match since a qualifier against Turkey in June 2019, but finished on the losing side in their first shootout since the 2006 World Cup final against Italy.
"We need time to get over this disappointment," said Lloris.