World Champs France Suffer Shock Euro Exit
29 June, 2021
World champions France have been knocked out of the European Championship after losing to Switzerland on penalties in the round of 16.
EURO 2020
Result: France 3-3 Switzerland (Swiss won 5-4 on penalties)
Date: 28 June 2021
Venue: Arena Naţionala
Benjamin Pavard returned to the French line-up in place of Jules Kounde as Adrien Rabiot came in for the injured Lucas Digne at left wing-back. Switzerland, meanwhile, were unchanged from the win over Turkey.
France enjoyed all the possession in the early stages but it was the Swiss who broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Haris Seferovic rose above Pavard to head home Steven Zuber's cross.
The world champions looked for an immediate way back into the contest, Rabiot and Mbappe going close with efforts from distance as they struggled to carve out clear-cut chances.
Unfortunately, that proved to be France's only chances of getting themselves back level in the first half as Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer barley had a save to make.
The French started the second half on a shaky note after Switzerland were awarded a penalty on 53 minutes for Pavard's foul on Zuber following a VAR review, but Hugo Lloris stepped and save Ricardo Rodriguez's penalty to keep his side in the game.
Switzerland were made to pay two minutes later as Mbappe played in Karim Benzema who clinically poked the ball beyond the on-rushing Sommer.
The turnaround was complete in the space of a minute as Benzema bagged his second goal on the night with header into an empty net after Sommer had deflected Antoine Griezmann's cross into his path.
The third goal arrived with 15 minutes left on the clock as Benzema's shot deflected into the path of Pogba, who took one touch before curling the ball into the top corner from 20 yards out.
Switzerland gave themselves a glimmer of hope on 82 minutes when Seferovic completed his brace with a neat header from close range to reduce the deficit.
The Swiss got their reward on 90 minutes as Granit Xhaka picked out Mario Gavranovic, who skipped past Presnel Kimpembe before drilling the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, sending the game to extra-time.
Mbappe should've wrapped up the win in the closing stages of the second half after being played in by Pogba's lovely pass, but the striker skewed his effort with only Sommer to beat.
The match eventually went to a shoot-out, where Switzerland held their nerve after scoring all five spot-kicks while Sommer saved Mbappe's effort to send his side to the last eight.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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