Great emotions in Bucharest, with the French who go under, recover and are resumed in the 90 ‘. Mbappé misses the decisive penalty
Switzerland beats France 8-7 (3-3) after penalties and qualifies for the quarterfinals of Euro 2020, where on Friday will find Spain. In Bucharest Petkovic’s team goes first in the 15 ‘with Seferovic, then at 55 ‘ Rodriguez gets a penalty saved by Lloris. Between 57 ‘and 59’ the Bleus overturn it with a brace from Benzema. At 75 ‘trio of Pogba, Seferovic shortens (81 ‘) and at 90’ the 3-3 of Gavranovic. On penalties, Mbappé’s error was decisive.
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THE MATCH
World champion France says goodbye to the European Championships already in the round of 16. This is the verdict issued at the Bucharest stadium at the end of a match full of goals and emotions and decided only in the lottery of penalties. The Swiss from the spot are relentless (5 out of 5), fatal for the Bleus the mistake of his most awaited man, the boy ready to take the scepter of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi: Kylian Mbappé closed a bad tournament (zero goal), parry the shot from Sommer. The obvious shortcomings of the French, however, should not detract from the great feat of the opponents, who played better in the first half, on par for long stretches, fought and suffered and were very good at not giving up on 1-3, returning first. in the game and earning in the 90 ‘first extra time and then penalties. Now Petkovic’s boys have to recharge their batteries in view of Spain, at Bleus it is already time for trials.
Deschamps has to do without the injured Dembélé, Digne and Koundé and decides to move on to the 3-man defense with the inclusion of Lenglet in the center, siding on the mirror of his opponents. Rabiot, left winger of the four-man midfield, is also back. Petkovic has a healthy squad and confirms the 11 that overwhelmed Turkey. As expected, France got off to a good start, but the first opportunity came from a corner kick, with Varare finishing high with his head (2 ‘). Switzerland plays shrewdly but does not give up on attacking and on 15 ‘takes the lead amidst general amazement: on Zuber’s cross from the left, Seferovic moves Lenglet professionally and Lloris heads off. Nice goal from the Benfica striker, but the sleep of the Barcelona center (not the only one in this unfortunate season) is there for all to see. At this point the race starts on the favorite tracks of the Swiss, while Mbappé and his teammates cannot find spaces. At 22 ‘Sommer touches just a cross from Rabiot and prevents Benzema from impacting with his head, then the conclusions of Mbappé and Rabiot do not find the mirror. Petkovic’s team shows up on set pieces, with Embolo and Akanji not finding the winning pumpkin in the final of the first fraction. First half that, sensationally, ends without shots in the mirror by the world champions and with Deschamps returning to the defense at 4, moving Kimpembe as left-back.
The French coach leaves the disappointing Lenglet in the locker room and enters Coman for a hyper-offensive 4-2-4. The Bleus increase in level and with them the game, which becomes spectacular and exciting. After an inaccurate left by Griezmann, Varane avoids doubling by removing a ball destined for Seferovic all alone at the far post. The Swiss play better, who in the 55th minute have the great opportunity to put a serious risk on the qualification, but Rodriguez is saved by Lloris a penalty awarded by the Var after a contact between Pavard and Zuber. The rule of the ‘wrong goal, goal conceded’ hits Xhaka and his teammates, who within 2 ‘go under due to a brace from Benzema: in the 57th minute the Real striker controls in an amazing way and with a sweet touch left beats Sommer; in the 59th minute he headed brace on the goal line after a shot by Griezmann countered by Sommer. Switzerland suffers the blow and in the 75th minute takes the third goal: the right under Pogba’s cross is a feast for the eyes. At this point and as seen in the second half, everything seems decided, but it is not so. At 81 ‘Seferovic with his head anticipates Varane and reopens it, at 85’ the new entry Gavranovic sees the 3-3 goal canceled but right at 90 ‘the Dinamo Zagreb forward puts Kimpembe down and Lloris dry with a right in the corner. The emotions, however, are not over and the regular time ends with Coman’s sensational crossbar.
At the start of extra time Deschamps loses Benzema through injury: Giroud in his place. The opportunity of 4-3 happens on Pavard’s feet, but Sommer raises his right hand over the crossbar. Coman hits the outside of the net (98 ‘) and the first extra period ends with a skyrocketing tiraccio by Sissoko, who had taken over Griezmann. France tries in every way, but Mbappé is not in the evening: the PSG star kicks badly twice with his left foot and counters a conclusion from his teammate Giroud. It goes to penalties: Gavranovic, Pogba, Schar, Giroud, Akanji, Thuram, Vargas, Kimpembe and Mehmedi are relentless, Mbappé is hypnotized by Sommer. Adieu Les Bleus.
THE TABLE
FRANCE-SWITZERLAND 7-8 (3-3)
France (3-4-1-2): Lloris 7; Varane 6, Lenglet 4.5 (1 ‘st Coman 6.5 – 6’ 2ts Thuram 6), Kimpembe 6; Pavard 5, Pogba 7, Kanté 5.5, Rabiot 6; Griezmann 6.5 (43 ‘st Sissoko 5.5); Benzema 8 (3 ‘1ts Giroud 5,5), Mbappé 5. Available: Mandanda, Maignan, Lemar, Tolisso, Zouma, Hernandez, Ben Yedder, Dubois. All.: Deschamps 5
Switzerland (3-4-1-2): Sommer 7,5; Elvedi 6,5, Akanji 6,5, Rodriguez 5 (42′ st Mehmedi 6); Widmer 6 (28′ st Mbabu 6,5), Freuler 6,5, Xhaka 7,5, Zuber 7,5 (34′ st Fassnacht 6); Shaqiri 5 (28′ st Gavranovic 7); Embolo 6,5 (34′ st Vargas 6), Seferovic 8 (7′ 1ts Schar 6). Available: Mvogo, Kobel, Zakaria, Sow, Benito, Fernandes. All.: Petkovic 7
Referee: Rapallini (Argentina)
Markers: 15′ e 36′ st Seferovic (S), 12′ st e 14′ st Benzema (F), 30′ st Pogba (F), 45′ st Gavranovic
Penalties: Gavranovic (S) gol, Pogba (F) gol, Schar (S) gol, Giroud (F) gol, Akanji (S) gol, Thuram (F) gol, Vargas (S) gol, Kimpembe (F) gol, Mehmedi (S) gol, Mbappé (F) parato
Ammonites: Varane (F), Elvedi (S), Rodriguez (S), Xhaka (S), Coman (F), Pavard (F), Akanji (S)
Expelled: –
Note: At 10 ‘st Lloris for a penalty to Rodriguez
THE STATISTICS
• France have lost four of the seven times they have won the penalty shoot-out lottery between the European and World Cups, including the last two: v Switzerland at EURO2020 and Italy in the 2006 World Cup final.
• Switzerland have always lost on their previous two occasions in the penalty shoot-out lottery between the European and World Cups: EURO2016 v Poland, 2006 World Cup v Ukraine.
• In the previous six editions of the European Championships only in 2008, France had not reached the quarter-finals.
• Switzerland reached the quarter-finals between the European and World Cups for the first time since the 1954 World Cup.
• Karim Benzema is the first French player to score at least two goals in two straight European and World Cup games since Michel Platini in 1984 (hat-trick v Belgium and hat-trick v Yugoslavia).
• Only 103 seconds elapsed between France’s two goals. In addition, 4 minutes and 3 seconds passed between the penalty saved by Lloris and the two goals by Benzema.
• Hugo Lloris is the first French goalkeeper to save a penalty in a European / World Cup match by Fabien Barthez at EURO2004 against England.
• Switzerland have missed all of their last four penalties (excluding the penalty lottery).
• Four of Paul Pogba’s last five goals for France have come from outside the box, including his last three.
• Seven penalties were missed at EURO2020 (excluding the penalty lottery), as many as in the previous four editions of the European Championships together.
• Switzerland have scored at least three goals in two straight European and World Cup matches for the first time since the 1954 World Cup.
• Seferovic is the fourth player to head two goals in a European match since 1980, after Mario Mandzukic, Nicklas Bendtner and Andriy Shevchenko (all previously in 2012).
• Steven Zuber provided 4 assists at EURO2020, no player has ever served more winning passes in a single European Championship since Opta collected the figure (since 1980).
• Haris Seferovic is the second Swiss player to score in two straight European games after Hakan Yakin in 2008.
• 50th match for N’Golo Kanté with the France shirt.
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