Switzerland shock France after penalty shootout win

Switzerland are through to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals after beating France in a penalty shootout.

The Swiss had to come from two goals down late on to force extra time before Yann Sommer saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty to send his team through.

Paul Pogba had earlier given France the lead but Haris Seferovic and Mario Gavranovic struck late to take the game to extra time.

Seferovic put Switzerland ahead early on when he headed in from Steven Zuber’s cross.

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Switzerland nullified France for the rest of the first half. Adrien Rabiot shot wide and Benzema saw a shot blocked.

The lead should have been doubled nine minutes into the second half when the video assistant referee gave a penalty but Ricardo Rodriguez’s spot-kick was saved by Hugo Lloris.

That penalty seemed to spring France into life and they had turned the match around within the next few minutes.

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First, Kylian Mbappe played a superb through ball to Benzema to finish into the bottom right corner.

With France’s next attack, Antoine Griezmann found Benzema at the far post to head in.

Paul Pogba put France two goals ahead when his thunderbolt from outside the area found the top right corner.

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Just like the earlier game between Croatia and Spain, two late goals forced the game into extra time.

Seferovic netted his second of the night when he headed in Kevin Mbabu’s cross before Gavranovic found the bottom left corner after Granit Xhaka’s pass.

Kingsley Coman came within inches of giving France the win in stoppage time but his shot hammered off the crossbar.

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Benjamin Pavard and Coman both had chances for France in extra time and Sommer pulled off a superb save to keep out Olivier Giroud late on as the match went to penalties.

With both teams perfect after four penalties each, Admir Mehmedi stepped up to score before Sommer leapt to his right to bat away Mbappe’s spot-kick and send Switzerland through.

Cover Photo: “UEFA EURO 2020 Trophy, Football Championship” by wuestenigel is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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