A miss of the penalty design from Kylian Mbappe saw Switzerland win a knockout tie at a major tournament for the first time since 1954, sending world champions France in the 16th round.
Didier Deschamp’s team was poor in the first half, failed to adapt to a back three system and left plenty of room behind for the Swiss to attack. Haris Seferovic struck first, overpowered Clement Lenglet and sent a wonderful nod past Hugo Lloris.
Deschamps changed the form to something more familiar at half-time, but it did not work immediately. Benjamin Pavard’s challenging challenge gave Ricardo Rodriguez the chance to send France pack, but Hugo Lloris met it and the French had a lifeline.
They also used it well. Suddenly the world champions came to life with Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann who put the Swiss to the sword. The three combined wonderfully, and a four-minute double volley from Benzema turned the game on its head.
Paul Pogba then entered the team with a brilliant strike from a distance, and it seemed as if the whole thing would be sailing from there. But you just can not take anything for granted at Euro 2020, right?
Siri, define art in its purest form
? @PaulPogba #FRASUI | #ITVFotboll | # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/x8hhQ0Tnme
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 28, 2021
Seferovic came back with another head that threw the Swiss their own life raft, and with a wonderful strike from the replacement Mario Gavranovic, they jumped right on it and sent a pulsating game to extra time.
A couple of fantastic stops from each goalkeeper meant that penalties awaited, and after nine consecutive spot kicks had been converted, it was Mbappe of all people who saw his kick saved by Yann Sommer when Switzerland came up with one of the shocks of the tournament.
This is how the players rated.
Lloris saves from the site / FRANCK FIFE / Getty Images
Hugo Lloris (GK) – 7/10 – Guessed right to save the penalty in normal time and keep France alive. Not much chance with any of the three Swiss goals.
Raphael Varane (CB) – 6/10 – Started shaky and that set the tone for another convincing France show. Seemed to go to tonto on his teammates after Gavranovic’s strike crossed the line.
Clement Lenglet (CB) – 4/10 – Totally overwhelmed by Seferovic for the opener and connected at half time for his problems.
Presnel Kimpembe (CB) – 6/10 – Did not really get a chance to settle down in the game, playing in three different positions at one point or another.
Kante fights with Haris Seferovic / Marko Djurica – Pool / Getty Images
Benjamin Pavard (RWB) – 6/10 – Seemed much more comfortable after switching to a full back in the second half but an incredibly clumsy foul to give away the penalty.
Paul Pogba (CM) – 8/10 – Curled one straight into the top corner from about 25 yards to kill the game dead … or so it seemed. Cost his team with a bit of a weak possession game in the build-up to the Swiss equalizer, but grew into the game the longer it went and turned into a suitable champion class in the long run.
N’Golo Kante (CM) – 6/10 – Covered every blade of grass but that’s exactly what you expect from him now, right? Otherwise one of his quieter games.
Adrien Rabiot (LWB) – 5/10 – Still not sure what Rabiot is, but he is definitely not a left-back. Drove a lot down to the left without doing much else, but went close with a long-distance rake during the first half.
It’s the best touch you’ll see in a very long time?
Euro 2020: Has Karim Benzema COME? #FRASUI | #ITVFotboll | # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/GoCSaxkqT0
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 28, 2021
Karim Benzema (CF) – 8/10 – Got a strangely wide position during the first half but caused chaos when he was moved into his more familiar central role. His first goal was magical.
Kylian Mbappe (CF) – 7/10 – Seemed slow for the most part but exploded in life after Llori’s penalty count. Nice assistance for Benzema to get France back in the game and then a great back heel to start the move for the second time.
Antoine Griezmann (CF) – 6/10 – Lovely little chipped assist got France’s noses in front. Deschamps will have regretted submitting to him when the Swiss equalizer sailed a minute later.
Coman appeared from the bench / Mihai Barbu – Pool / Getty Images
Kingsley Coman (Lenglet, 46) – 6/10
Moussa Sissoko (Griezmann, 88) – 5/10
Olivier Giroud (Benzema, 94) – 6/10
Marcus Thuram (Coman, 111) – 4/10
Scenes. / DANIEL MIHAILESCU / Getty Images
Yann Sommer (GK) – 8/10 – Deceptively quiet for the first 90 minutes but came with a number of key stops in overtime and then made himself a hero in the shootout.
Nico Elvedi (CB) – 6/10 – Step out of the defense to win the ball back a few times. His positioning left a bit to be desired but he compensated for it with his pace on the cover.
Manuel Akanji (CB) – 7/10 – The glue that held things in the middle of the three. Really impressive except for four minutes where France blew away the Swiss.
Ricardo Rodriguez (CB) – 6/10 – Stood well against Mbappe and kept things close to the left of the Swiss back three. Really bad punishment.
Xhaka gets a foot in Mbappe / Marcio Machado / Getty Images
Silvan Widmer (RWB) – 5/10 – Fought defensively as the game continued, especially after Coman’s introduction at half time. Revoked before the comeback began.
Remo Freuler (CM) – 7/10 – Protected the back four well and competed bravely against a troubled French midfield.
Xherdan Shaqiri (AM) – 5/10 – Could not really put his mark on the match because Switzerland scored early and then sat deep.
Granit Xhaka (CM) – 8/10 – Completely impeccable for the most part and slammed the door in the face of the esteemed French midfielder.
Steven Zuber (LWB) – 7/10 – Beautifully cut cross for the opener and made his presence felt before he was put down towards the end.
⚠️ Do we have a shock on the cards? ⚠️
What little midfield ahead from Seferovic? #FRASUI | #ITVFotboll | # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/7dCO3QnWgc
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 28, 2021
Haris Seferovic (CF) – 8/10 – Quality headline to get you started, steer it past Hugo Lloris at a fair distance. His other was not bad either.
Breel Embolo (CF) – 6/10 – Caused some real problems with his driving behind and made himself really inconvenient. Subbed off before the real party started.
Gavranovic celebrates his famous equalizer / Justin Setterfield / Getty Images
Kevin Mbabu (Widmer, 73) – 6/10
Mario Gavranovic (Xhaqiri, 73) – 7/10
Christian Fassnacht (Zuber, 80) – 6/10
Ruben Vargas (Embolo, 80) – 5/10
Admar Mehmedi (Rodriguez, 87) – 6/10
Fabian Schar (Severovic, 96) – 5/10
