World champions France were knocked out of Euro 2020 as they lost a penalty shootout 5-4 to Switzerland following a pulsating 3-3 draw after extra time that sets the Swiss up for a quarter-final meeting with Spain.
Switzerland celebrate beating France in a penalty shootout. Photo: Panoramic
The two sides deadlocked after 90 minutes and neither managing to score during extra time.
Both teams were perfect from the penalty spot until Kylian Mbappe's stepped up to take the last of France's five scheduled kicks, but Yann Sommer dived to his right and got a strong hand to the striker's effort, swatting it away to send the Swiss through.
It was Switzerland's first knockout stage victory at a tournament since 1938 and the first time they have made the last eight since the 1954 World Cup which they hosted.
On a memorable evening for Swiss football, the so-called Nati repeatedly beat the odds, coming from 3-1 down with two goals in the final five minutes to force extra time and eventually penalties.
The French looked to be cruising to victory when Karim Benzema struck twice in two minutes early in the second half.
He latched on to Mbappe's through ball in the 57th minute to cancel out Switzerland's first half lead through Haris Seferovic's header.
Benzema then headed home from near the goal-line two minutes later to take his tournament tally to four as France took control of the game, following a lacklustre first half, minutes after the Swiss had missed a 55th minute penalty.
Hugo Lloris saved Ricardo Rodriguez's spot kick as the Swiss wasted the chance to take a two-goal lead in what looked like a turning point in the match.
By the time Paul Pogba scored with a sensational curled shot into the top corner in the 75th minute to make it 3-1 for France, few believed the momentum could shift once more.
But Seferovic headed in his second goal with five minutes to play and substitute Mario Gavranovic beat Lloris to snatch a 90th-minute equaliser and force the extra period after France substitute Kingsley Coman thundered a drive off the bar.
Olivier Giroud twice came close for France having come off the bench but the game was to be resolved on penalties where Sommer swatted Mbappe's spot kick away after five Swiss players had scored to earn their first ever tournament shootout win.
Spain's players celebrate victory at Euro 2020. Photo: AFP
Meanwhile, Spain coach Luis Enrique hailed his players' character as the three-times European champions recovered from a nightmare start then let slip a two-goal lead before finally beating Croatia 5-3 in extra time to reach the quarter-finals.
"It was a very intense game today that really had everything. Everyone saw our true team spirit today," Enrique said.
"When the word ego disappears and the word team appears, of course it's fantastic to be part of a group like that."
Spain had taken a 3-1 lead after an incredible error from keeper Unai Simon saw them fall behind.
Croatia staged an astonishing comeback with goals in the 85th minute and in added time, but Spain went on to score two goals in extra time.
- Reuters
