Switzerland shocks France on penalties as the World Champion bow out of the EURO 2020
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The goal by Gavranovic in the 90th minute
“Football bloody hell”, exclaimed Sir Alex when Manchester United scored two 90 mins goal to win the 1999 UCL Final against Bayern on their road to winning the treble. This remark still reverberates around every stadium around the world that plays host to matches that enthral and enchant like last night’s France vs Switzerland. Football hurts and humbles and for every time triumph there is a defeat, however for every football fans who witnessed the epic showdown between these two nations, all ended up winning at the end of the day.
Seferovic headed Switzerland in to the front
Going into the match France were overwhelming favourites, but footballing gods decided to favour the brave. France had shaken things at the back and brought back Clement Lenglet to the side in the face of injuries to Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez. France were cagey at the start as their defense looked to settled in, but Switzerland had their foot on the throttle as they looked to bring the game to the French. With their wingback providing excellent attacking support, and as early as the 15th minute Zuber picked a loose ball from a blocked shot danced his way towards the left and floated in a cross.
Seferovic leaped over everyone and headed a sublime header past Hugo Lloris as Lenglet was left wanting. France were left shaken and they looked to bounce back as they headed into the first half trailing 1-0.
A missed penalty and quick turn-around for France
The second half seemed to pile on even more misery on the French. Zuber who had been troubling all night, waved his way into the French box and was brought down by Pavard. Referee waved play on but VAR turned that around and awarded Switzerland a penalty. The game seemed to have been sealed by Switzerland as up stepped Rodrigues. A gardly confident figure, Rodrigues had missed 3 of his last 6 penalties, saw his effort saved by a low dive from Hugo LLoris, France were still alive and it was time for a comeback.
Mbappe pass to Benzema was a tad behind him, but a touch of class from Benzema brought it to the front for a finish to level proceedings.
Switzerland before they could recover from their shock of penalty miss, France struck again. Griezman’s shot was saved by Sommer but the ball looped over to the far post with Benzema waiting to tuck in a free header. The comeback had been complete. Or had it?
A worldie and a half from Pogba
Pogba had been orchestrating the midfield throughout the warm night in Bucharest. He was pinging balls, distributing them like it was child’s play with impeccable vision. In the 75th minute, a loose ball from a blocked shot fell to Pogba at the edge of the box. Pogba picked it up and curled one in to the goal beyond the reach of Sommer with such finesse that no mere congregation of words can describe. France seemed to have put the game to bed.
“What do we say to the God of Knockout stage exit?” Switzerland: “Not today”
The Swiss showed incredible fighting spirit to turn this game around when no one had given them a chance. Granit Xhaka went toe to toe in the midfield with Kante and emerged victorious against all odds. Switzerland had been handed a lifeline when Mbabu’s whipped cross found Seferovic’s head in the 81st min. France had to hold on for 9 more minutes. But the footballing goods were unwillingly to write that script. Beyond any time Xhaka’s splitting pass found Gavranovic who scored to bring the game back to level pegging.
From the restart France had a glorious opportunity and Kingsley Coman struck the woodwork with almost the final kick of the 90 mins. The game was heading into extra time.
Extra time and Penalty shootout- Mbappe’s miss proved costly
Mbappe, the supposedly finest generational talent of our time, had been lacklustre throughout the tournament. In a match where France hoped he would find his feet, Mbappe disappointed. Picking up a ball slid in by Coman, Mbappe spurned a chance off the side netting in the 100th min. That summed up Mbappe’s tournament – inaccurate and undependable.
It took great efforts by the Swiss team, especially from Granit Xhaka, who covered every blade of grass, a performance closely emulating Roy Keane’s performance vs Juventus some 22 years ago for Manchester United in the 1999 UCL Final and the hero of the shootout Yann Sommer who made some terrific saves to keep Swiss in the game
In the match rolled into the penalty shootout and everyone who went before Mbappe had dispatched the goal with unreal precision. With the weights and burden of expectation on his shoulder, Mbappe saw his effort saved by Yann Sommer.
Switzerland had secured their first victory in the knockout stage of a tournament since 1938. The penalty shootout heartbreak from 5 years ago is now a fabled tale. They have beaten the World Champion, in what was a truly miraculous evening in Bucharest.
ALSO READ: EURO 2020: Kylian Mbappe apologizes to fans after missing crucial penalty in France’s EURO Cup exit
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Arunangsu Singh
(99 Articles Published)