Favourites are out of the competition and those who were given micro-chances to qualify further in the tournament did exactly that. After a 90-minute-6-goal thriller, two extremely interesting extra-time periods and eventually penalties – Swiss eliminated the French from the EURO 2020. At National Stadium in Bucharest, Romania, final score 3-3 with 5-4 in the penalty shootout in favour of Switzerland.It did not start as everyone expected – France were not dominant, Swiss welcomed the label of the underdog and played tight in defence and aggressively on counter attacks.While French were trying to accustom to their experimental 3-4-3 set up, Switzerland played simple football. And out of such an approach came the lead.After only 15 minutes favourites were behind – Steven Zuber showcased brilliant technique and produced a beautiful lofted cross into the box. Haris Seferovic caught the ball by outjumping Lenglet and headed the ball low inside the left post.#EURO2020 France × Switzerland * Highlights 🔥 HDpic.twitter.com/erUtoiSq62— . (@HD23562677) June 28, 2021 Zuber provided his fourth assist at EURO 2020 – no player has ever provided more at a single EURO tournament since recorded data (1980).After the conceded goal, Les Blues did not lack determination but what they did lack is the solution for the organized defensive block the Swiss set up at their half.Kylian Mbappe’s free kick was blocked in the 27th minute and Adrien Rabiot’s shot two minutes later was not accurate enough – French simply did not know how to threaten the squad of Vladimir Petkovic.Didier Deschamps had to make changes and he did to start the second half – Lenglet was out and Bayern’s winger and an overall trophy magnet Kingley Coman came in to bring in more speed.But even so Switzerland still looked well on the pitch. And again out of their organized game came a colossal opportunity – a penalty in the 55th minute.However, France needed someone to wake them up from the limbo in which they were in. In comes Hugo Lloris – Tottenham keeper managed to save the penalty shot by Ricardo Rodriguez.And as it usually happens, punishment followed. Les Bleus smelled blood – from pure artistry and improvisation French turned it around in less than 120 seconds.Karim Benzema scored two goals in two minutes – first was a result of his excellent reaction while receiving a pass from Mbappe and the second was his predatorial instinct which followed a great France team play.And finally #France has turned the game on it’s head with Benzema scoring 2 goals in just 2 minutes after Lloris saved a penalty from #Switzerland’s Rodriguez.#EURO2020 #FRASUI pic.twitter.com/7ad4Ptc3Vn— Is-haq Early (@ishaqearly) June 28, 2021 There were just 4 minutes and 3 seconds between Lloris’ penalty save and Benzema’s second goal.But what was seen in the 75th minute was simply magic. Magic by Paul Pogba. The ball rebounded and arrived at his feet far from the box. He didn’t think twice and fired a brilliant shot into the top right corner as his attempt was beyond the reach of Yann Sommer.Manchester United tunishine this #EURO2020 💪💪…what a goal from pogba 🤗 pic.twitter.com/Au3T6PcIbf— Nëbo sâng yëgo 🇰🇪 (@sanyego) June 28, 2021 Deschamps team already started thinking of their clash against Spain in the quarter-finals but Switzerland are not the team that gives up easily.Seferovic scored his second in the 81st minute after Kevin Mbabu sent a beautiful cross in side Lloris’ box.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Swiss scored another in the 85th minute, courtesy of Mario Gavranovic – however it was disallowed due to offside.But he could not be stripped of a beautiful goal he scored five minutes later. Granit Xhaka showed great vision to find Gavranovic with a cheeky pass inside the box, shot was precise and it sailed into the bottom left corner.Switzerland earns a huge upset over France in PKs after tying it up in the 90th minute! pic.twitter.com/tL2SuLm1xm— Playbook Products (@PlaybookProduct) June 28, 2021 Seconds before the extra time Coman almost scored but his controlled shot shook Sommer’s crossbar. Nothing short of a jaw-dropper.The thriller continued in extra time – in the 96th minute Benjamin Pavard had a massive chance to regain the lead for France but Sommer made an incredible save to send the ball over the bar. Coman tried 2 minutes after but his effort went wideSwiss also threatened but fatigue took it’s tole on both squads. It was most obvious in the 111th minute when Mbappe had a chance to score his first goal of the tournament but just could not find the stamina to finish the play with an accurate shot.Olivier Giroud tried his luck in the final seconds of the second extra time period but Sommer was brilliant to catch the shot of Chelsea’s super-sub.Penalty shootout was a goalkeeper nightmare until the final one in the first series. All shooters were accurate and their attempts were more than secure, however, the fifth effort for France from the spot was given to the young star of the team – Kylian Mbappe. PSG forward was stopped by the incredible Yan Sommer who ‘read’ Mbappe brilliantly and kept his composure.Penalty shootout between France and Switzerland in FULL HD 😍😍!🇨🇭: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅🇫🇷: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❎ Maximum fun for everyone. ❤😁 Follow @TWL_SPORTINGpic.twitter.com/YjD23y1q4w— GOL (@GOL50012953) June 28, 2021 After this massive achievement, Swiss proceed to face Spain, who also went through a roller-coaster against Croatia earlier. Spain and Switzerland will face each other on the 2nd of July as a part of EURO 2020 quarter-finals.EURO 2020Eight-finalsFrance – Switzerland 3-4 (after penalties) (3-3)/Benzema 57′, 59′, Pogba 75′ – Seferovic 15′, 81′, Gavranovic 90’/©SofaScore
