Mbappe Misses A Penalty, The French World Champions Fall At The Hands Of Switzerland

JAKARTA - World champions France fell to Switzerland on penalties after 120 minutes the position remained 3-3 in the Euro 2020 last 16 matches between the two countries in Bucharest, Romania, early Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappe is the only player out of 10 penalty takers who failed to carry out his duties as a penalty taker. And this will probably haunt him for the rest of his career

The five Swiss penalty takers who managed to find the net were Mario Gavranovic, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Vargas, and Admir Mehmedi.

While the four French penalty takers who succeeded were Paul Pogba, Olivier Giroud, Marcus Thuram, and Presnel Kimpembe. 5-4 penalty spot for the Swiss win.

Mario Gavranovich forced France to continue the match for 120 minutes in the round of 16 of Euro 2020 at the National Arena, Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday morning, after the score until 90 minutes of normal time ended 3-3, but also made the match between the two countries proceed to the penalty shootout.

Haris Seferovic had given Switzerland a 1-0 lead until the first half after Seferovic headed in a fine cross from Steven Zuber on the left side of the penalty box which was blocked by French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

In the first five minutes of the second half, Switzerland came close to doubling the score when Ricardo Rodriguez failed to get the ball in from a shot as his shot was deflected off to be caught by French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Lloris' ability to thwart the Swiss penalty sparked the French spirit who two minutes later in the 57th minute created Karim Benzema's equalizer after receiving an assist from Kylian Mbappe.

In the 59th minute, France made it 2-1 also from Benzema's goal, this time receiving a cross in front of the Swiss goal mouth which goalkeeper Sommer could touch but then headed Benzema's head which he headed straight into the Swiss goal.

Turning to win 2-1 made the French players even crazier and in the 74th minute, Kingsley Coman fired home from close range but headed straight for the Swiss goalkeeper.

But one minute later in the 75th-minute midfielder Paul Pogba gave France the upper hand as it made it 3-1.

The ball vomited from Benzema's shot which was denied by the Swiss players, fell right at the feet of Pogba, who maneuvered slowly looking for an opening to release a hard right-footed shot from outside the penalty box that fell into the right side of the Swiss goal.

When it looked like France would win the game, Seferovic pulled back in the 81st minute after finishing off Kevin Mbabu's right-footed cross with his header past Lloris.

Three minutes after Switzerland replaced Ricardo Rodriguez for Admir Mehmedi in the 87th minute, Switzerland finally equalized in the 90th minute after Granit Xhaka's beautiful cross met Mario Gavranovic who then rounded centre-back Presnel Kimpembe to find the net into the bottom corner for the equalizer. 3-3.

Coman almost gave France the win when his shot hit the post just moments before the end of the game.

When the match continued to 2x15 minutes of extra time, both teams tried to end the match, the players of both teams took turns stabbing to add goals but did not succeed so the position remained 3-3.

The match went to a penalty shootout, and in the end, Switzerland won the match to face Spain in the quarter-finals.