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Kylian Mbappe misses the tenth penalty of the shootout and Swiss win 5-4
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France looked to have it won in a four-minute period when they saved a pen and scored twice
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But Swiss fought back with goals on 81 and 90th minutes to force extra time
The frailties ultimately outweighed the flair.
France, the world champions and tournament favourites, have been dramatically eliminated from Euro 2020 by Switzerland in the competition’s first penalty shoot-out.
Kylian Mbappe missed the decisive 10th penalty, with Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer producing an inspired dive to his right to deny the 22-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker. All nine players from either side had earlier scored from the penalty spot at the end of a pulsating, rollercoaster, last-16 tie in Bucharest.
It is the first time that Switzerland have reached the quarter-finals of a major competition since 1954 and, having never previously beaten France in a tournament, they had earlier recovered from 3-1 down after 80 minutes to force extra-time. Mario Gavranovic scored their 92nd-minute equaliser to follow two headed goals from Haris Seferovic and a towering midfield performance by Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka.
“We wrote history, we made history and we can dream,” said Xhaka. It was also the first penalty shoot-out that Switzerland has ever won and they will now play Spain in St Petersburg on Friday.
For France, whose defeat throws open the tournament, it was a baffling, Jekyll and Hyde performance. They had been dreadful during the first half, before appearing to salvage the tie with an 18-minute blur of attacking brilliance during the second half in which Karim Benzema scored twice and Paul Pogba delivered a contender for goal of the tournament.
The defence, however, was unsettled by a change in formation and ultimately buckled badly under the aerial pressure of Benfica’s target-man Seferovic.
With Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Digne both going off injured in France’s final group game against Portugal, manager Didier Deschamps had been left without a natural left-back.
The solution was drastic. Rather than ask one of his squad to play out of position, he overhauled the entire system, initially switching to three at the back and bringing in Barcelona centre-back Clement Lenglet alongside Raphael Varane and Presnel Kimpembe.
It meant Benjamin Pavard and midfielder Adrien Rabiot operating as wing-backs and, aside from a bright opening five spell during which Mbappe and Varane might have scored, the first-half performance was shambolic.
Whether France were complacent and operating under a false sense of security, or their players were simply unable to adjust to the tactical switch was unclear, but Switzerland soon assumed control of the game. Xhaka was excellent in his anchoring role, while Stephen Zuber was constantly drifting skillfully into pockets of space.
France’s central duo of Pogba and N’Golo Kante, by contrast, looked lost without an additional midfield body alongside them and the entire team were displaying an alarming lack of energy and intensity. With Zuber proving especially adept at exploiting the area behind Pavard in the world champion’s unfamiliar formation, Switzerland took a deserved lead.
Zuber surged to the byline and, having effortlessly cut back inside Pavard, floated a pinpoint cross for Seferovic. The Benfica striker duly shook off Lenglet with shocking ease and rose to head powerfully past Hugo Lloris and into the bottom corner.
Patrick Vieira, the former captain, was not the only one to wonder aloud at half-time whether there were some imposters in the France team.
Deschamps was at least decisive. Off came Lenglet. On came Kingsley Coman and the disastrous experiment with a three-man defence and wing-backs was abandoned. France still wobbled and Zuber soon drew a hopelessly rash tackle from Pavard.
Zuber tried to continue but, with referee Fernando Andres Rapallini waving play on, VAR correctly intervened to ensure a penalty. Ricardo Rodriguez stepped up and, while his penalty did lack conviction, Lloris dived smartly to his right to parry the effort to safety.
It gave France both a lifeline and an urgently needed surge of adrenaline. The ball was played quickly forward by Mbappe to Karim Benzema who, quite exquisitely, brought it under control with the outstretched heel of his left foot and then shot France level.
Another blur of passing followed, with Antoine Griezmann and Mbappe playing a quick one-two, before looping the ball across the six-yard for Benzema to put France into the lead. Four minutes had separated the penalty miss and Benzema’s brace.
France were briefly a team transformed and, after Benzema’s shot was blocked, Pogba curled a spectacular 30-yard finish into the top corner.
Switzerland, though, still rallied and France’s glaring defensive weaknesses remained. First Kevin Mbabu crossed for Seferovic to again head past Lloris and then,with seconds remaining, Xhaka teed up Gavranovic to send an extraordinary game into extra time.
10:17 PM
What an evening’s football
We will get to the match report from Jeremy Wilson shortly. I am hearing that there may even be another match on tomorrow. If it’s half as exciting as the two games today then we are in for a wild ride! Thanks for following this one with us. Cheers.
10:14 PM
Regret to inform you
that the talk on ITV from the likes of Neville, G and Pougatch, M is that it’s all opening up for England… Oh crikey.
10:14 PM
Granit Xhaka
wins the man of the match award.
10:10 PM
What a tremendous day
of football that was! Croatia and Spain produced a highly entertaining match, and then this Swiss triumph over mighty France.
10:06 PM
Keano’s on form
as you would imagine. “I’m glad they got punished for that. You can have all the quality in the world, but if you don’t turn up with the proper attitude, it’s hard to switch it back on.”
He points out that Pogba lost the ball for the Swiss third, and indeed he did. Plenty of speculation as to whether Pogba can do it in a midfield two. That might be for another day, maybe.
09:55 PM
And here’s the save
09:52 PM
One of the many Swiss heroes
09:51 PM
Here’s Mbappe walking up to the fateful spot kick
09:49 PM
France are out of Euro 2020
Switzerland looked gone for all money at 3-1, but they fought like neutral tigers.
09:48 PM
Poor Kylian Mbappé
Ah the poor kid. He ran up, he hit it hard and true, the keeper Sommer guesses, he dives and he gets a good strong hand on it.
Kylian hit it to the keeper’s right, but it wasn’t in the corner. It was the weakest of the ten penalties. The keeper was moving across and would have gone too far, but he managed to claw at it with his ‘wrong’ hand, the trailing left hand. Mbappé, as you would imagine, looks devastated.
Switzerland win 5-4 on penalties
09:45 PM
SAVED! Kylian Mbappe’s penalty is saved
France are out!
09:44 PM
Switzerland 5 France 4
Mehmedi runs up and slots it in the corner. Mehmedi scores!
It’s over to Mbappe……..
09:44 PM
Switzerland 4 France 4
Kimpembe the next man. Hits it with his left, top corner, never stopping that. Kimpembe scores
09:43 PM
Switzerland 4 France 3
Vargas steps up. Lloris guesses right, dives right, Lloris gets a hand to it but he has hit it just hard enough. Ooof, nervous moment. Varga scores.
09:42 PM
Switzerland 3 France 3
Marcus Thuram steps up. He looks a bit nervous. The keeper guesses right – dives to his right. But it was well struck from Lilian’s boy. Thuram scores
09:41 PM
Switzerland 3 France 2
Akanji of Dortmund…. runs up, waits for the keeper to move, and fires it into the corner. Akanji scores
09:40 PM
Switzerland 2 France 2
No mistake from Olivier Giroud, right into the corner, nicely taken. Giroud scores!
09:39 PM
Switzerland 2 France 1
It’s Schar of Newcsatle, slots it delicately into the corner, sending Lloris the wrong way. Schar scores!
09:38 PM
Switzerland 1 France 1
The Man United man stutters in his run up and mullers it into the top corner. Nobody’s saving that. Pogba scores!
09:38 PM
Up steps Paul Pogba
Looks to the heavens.
09:37 PM
Switzerland 1 France 0
Gavranovic of Zagreb blasts it into the roof of the net. Nice. Gavranovic scores
09:37 PM
Switzerland will shoot first
It will be Gavranovic, who scored their late equaliser.
09:36 PM
Here are the rosters
France: Lloris, Varane, Lenglet, Kimpembe, Pavard, Pogba, Kante, Rabiot, Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappe-Lottin. Subs: Lemar, Giroud, Tolisso, Zouma, Mandanda, Sissoko, Coman, Lucas, Ben Yedder, Maignan, Dubois, Thuram.
Switzerland: Sommer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Widmer, Freuler, Xhaka, Zuber, Shaqiri, Seferovic, Embolo. Subs: Mbabu, Zakaria, Vargas, Mvogo, Sow, Fassnacht, Benito, Mehmedi, Gavranovic, Fernandes, Kobel, Schar.
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)
09:34 PM
Penalty shootout
Oh my goodness how exciting. Who do you think will win?
The French guys are in a huddle, all their players and support staff.
Benzema, Griezemann are already subbed off as you know – so that’s two who would have taken, I guess.
But for the Swiss, Shaq, and the two goal Seferovic have also gone so.
Lloris obviously has saved one pen already tonight.
09:32 PM
120 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Rabiot with a silly foul. Xhaka will be the one who gets the last chance… a direct freekick. Miles over.
It’s going to penalties!
09:31 PM
119 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
The French are the side with the ball, the ones asking the questions, probing, trying to open up one more chance… and here it is! Into the area, acrobatic leap from Giroud. Leaping save from the keeper but he was always getting there.
09:29 PM
117 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
If Pogba played like this on the reg, United would be winning the League every year. Mind you, what about Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka? He has been superb.
A minor lull in the last 90 seconds. Have thoughts turned to pens?
09:26 PM
114 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
What a pass from Pogba, just drills it with the outside of the foot on the volley into the path of Thuram, he crosses it… Giroud! Fluffs the shot.
Clive says of that quarterbacked pass: “Tonight Matthew, I am going to be Tom Brady!”
09:23 PM
112 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
It’s all France. Thuram HAS now come on as a sub. Bombs down the flank, crosses. It’s hacked clear in a panic. Corner. Cleared.
But it is the French who are asking all of the questions.
09:22 PM
111 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Now it is Pogba who carves the defence open with a surgeon’s pass… Mbappe puts it into the side netting. He let it come across himself and tries it with the left. He should have taken it early with his right.
Coman IS now coming off.
09:21 PM
110 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Some wonderful battling from Kante, powers forward, simply will not countenance losing the ball. Manages to play it inside to Mbappe, who scuffs the shot wide.
09:20 PM
108 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Pogba robs Mehmedi and powers forward, what a sight he is in full flow. Akanji barges him to the floor and accepts the justified yellow with no complaint.
09:18 PM
106 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Can Mbappe deliver? He had a couple of electric moments early on but has been kept pretty well boxed up by the Swiss.
09:16 PM
The Swiss will kick us off
Where’s your money?
09:15 PM
HT in ET: France 3 Switzerland 3
Good press from the French. They force and error, turn it over, and release Sissoko. He cannot play a meaningful ball in. That will be the end of the first period.
Bit of a quieter period after a madcap first 90. I fancy there’ll be a winner before pens are needed, personally.
09:12 PM
103 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Are the Swiss finishing stronger? They seem to be putting France under a fair deal of pressure. Mehmedi has done a great job since coming on as sub. He’s shot wide from a corner.
09:09 PM
100 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Players dropping like flies. Xhaka lunges in on Pogba, but comes off worse. He’s okay.
Sissoko breaks forward and tries an effort. That will land somewhere in Budapest. I love that story of the French lads who went to the wrong capital.
09:07 PM
98 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Thuram is coming on to replace Coman, who was himself a sub. Coman seems to have gone in the hamstring. No! Coman has convinced the medical staff to let him stay on.
Magnificent game, high drama and the crowd are…. doing a Mexican wave. I guess that’s what you get for not having supporters of the ACTUAL TEAMS WHO ARE PLAYING in the ground.
09:06 PM
96 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Mbabu does superbly down the right, hard low cross. Varane saves the day once again. There were two Swiss attackers lurking and Varane had to be perfect. He’s a magnificent defender that guy.
09:04 PM
96 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Haris Seferovic, absolute warrior’s performance, is coming off. Scharr (of Newcastle) is coming on.
09:03 PM
94 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
So close! Coman gets down the flank, crosses, Pavard has a chance… the ball won’t quite drop for him and he has to improvise. Flicks a shot at goal – well saved by Sommer. Tipped over for a corner, dealt with okay.
09:01 PM
32 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Benzema is coming off – looked a bit like he might have picked up a knock? Regardless, it is Giroud who comes on.
09:00 PM
92 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
The aforementioned Mehmedi gets up at a corner, but plants his effort right at the keeper.
08:59 PM
91 mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Booking for Pavard – he’s going to miss the next match – DD has got major problems at full back. But he’s got more pressing problems right now. He went in high on Mehmedi
08:57 PM
Benzema with the first of his two
08:56 PM
End of 90 minutes: France 3 Switzerland 3
Exceptional entertainment. What a half of football. Five goals and a missed penalty.
08:55 PM
90+ mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
And we are still not done! Now France deliver it up field, find Coman, he brings it under control with his chest, he cuts inside… and smacks it against the upright. Oh my days. What a game! And there will be another 30 minutes at least, because that is the end of 90 minutes!
08:54 PM
90+ mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Arsenal fans, do not adjust your sets… Granit Xhaka is absolutely delivering. Another wonderful pass from deep… Mehmedi only has to control it and he’s got a one on one. But his control fails him.
08:53 PM
90+ mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Kante out of his element, making a driving run into the Swiss box… a Swiss defender, Mbabu, slides in. A natural forward might have tried to game a pen there.
08:52 PM
90+ mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Going to be four minutes added. Can either side find a winner?
08:51 PM
90+ mins: France 3 Switzerland 3
Xhaka was the man who played the pass from midfield. Kimpembe the defender who lost the man Gavranovic.
Four minutes are going to be added on…
08:49 PM
GOAL! France 3 Switzerland 3 (Gavranovic 90)
The Swiss hound the French in midfield. Benzema (?) gives Pogba a bit of a hospital pass, he’s surrounded by two players and he loses it. It’s played forward to Gavranovic, he controls it on the edge of the box, he takes a touch and he has fired it home into the corner!
08:47 PM
88 mins: France 3 Switzerland 2
Can the Swiss get hold of it and have one last spin of the wheel? France giving nothing at the moment.
08:46 PM
87 mins: France 3 Switzerland 2
Sissoko is coming on, Antoine G makes way, Deschamps just needs to shore this up. Coman is booked for a foul.
08:44 PM
84 mins: France 3 Switzerland 2
The Swiss have it in the net. Rodriguez tries an effort from distance, it is a bit of a daisy cutter, but it turns into an inadvertant through ball for Gavranovic… who slots the ball away! But that looks offside, and indeed it is offside.
08:42 PM
82 mins: France 3 Switzerland 2
Well where’s your money now?! The Swiss looked beaten after the two goals, but the third goal from Poggers only seems to have roused them. It is the men in all white who have the ball now.
08:41 PM
GOAL! France 3 Switzerland 2 (Seferovic 82)
The French were looking so classy, so slick, but they’ve allowed the Swiss to get forward down the right. A cross into the middle and a meaty, beaty, big and bouncy header from the mighty Seferovic – he’s a lovely big boy and he’s got up majestically there. Proper old school goal: cross from the right win, gie it tae tha big man and he has headed that home.
08:39 PM
80 mins: France 3 Switzerland 1
Just when France were starting to look sublime….
08:35 PM
77 mins: France 3 Switzerland 1
Another good move: Rabiot, Benzema… the movement is superb now… Coman joins in and has a shot. Smartly struck but at the keeper.
08:34 PM
GOAL! France 3 Switzerland 1 (Pogba 75)
… Benzema tries a shot, it is repelled, but only as far as Paul Pogba. He takes a couple of touches, and then unloads a glorious shot into the top corner from range. Absolute peach.
08:33 PM
74 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
The French front three are really starting to enjoy themselves, liquid, dangerous, pacy football from them…
08:31 PM
72 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
Mbabu and Gavranovic are coming on.
08:29 PM
70 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
It’s all starting to happen for France. The interplay, the pace, the understanding, the connections. They look a different team.
08:28 PM
68 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
Swiss clear the ensuing corner. They look a bit stunned and deflated. And why wouldn’t they?
08:27 PM
67 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
We’ve already had one comedy own goal today and we nearly had enough… aimless long ball from the French, the Swiss keeper comes out, but Widmer, running back, sends the ball over his keeper with a looping header. Oh my goodness… it drifts wide, thankfully.
08:25 PM
65 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
Xherdan Shaqiri with a perfect curled freekick… it’s beaten everyone and Widmer and Seferovic are in each others way unmarked at the back post. Ref has blown, not sure for what. Anyway they couldn’t tuck it away
08:19 PM
60 mins: France 2 Switzerland 1
Four minutes, one penalty save, two goals. France showing World Champion heart there. They’d been playing like a drain.
One minute 42 seconds between the two Benzema goals.
08:18 PM
GOAL! France 2 Switzerland 1 (Benzema 58)
More genius from Franhce, this time it is Griezmann who dances through, tries to dink it over the goalie… keeper does pretty well but he’s pushed it into the path of Benzema, who has the simplest of headers to make it 2-1.
08:17 PM
57 mins: France 1 Switzerland 1
The French are back in business.
08:16 PM
GOAL! France 1 Switzerland 1 (Benzema 56)
Oooh, Switzerland. That’s got to hurt. Mbappe plays a little slide rule through and Benzema produces a simply otherworldly touch, he kind of gathers it with his foot miles behind the rest of his body, somehow manages to drag it into the path and then slots it away. Genius.
08:14 PM
55 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
It seems to have lifted France. Pogba drives them on, releases the ball perfectly for the unmarked Mbappe and he measures out a curling shot at the far post… it’s just wide. Always looked wide.
08:13 PM
54 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Oh it’s a brilliant save from Hugo Lloris – well done sir. The penalty was reasonably well directed, low and to the keeper’s right but it was not hit with much conviction. Lloris dived and palmed it away. Huge moment, obviously.
Ricardo Rodriguez has his penalty saved
08:12 PM
It will be Ricardo Rodriguez to take it
Hugo Lloris, what have you got?
08:11 PM
52 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Zuber with a direct and quick run down the left and goes down under the challenge of Pavard. That looks well worth a Var check to me. He was haring into the box on the left, he has flown in, Zuber has done him with a bit of skill and the Frenchman has absolutely cleaned him out.
The match plays on, the French go up the other end, but soon enough that move breaks down and it is a Var check. Swiss penalty!
08:08 PM
49 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Goal saving, maybe tournament saving intervention, from Varane. Embolo had got to the byline, pulled it back and it looked like Seferovic was perfectly placed to apply the finish but Varane somehow got a touch to save the day.
08:06 PM
47 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Pogba drives forward and beats a couple. Then blooters it wide but still.
Griezmann also had a shot from range just then.
08:05 PM
46 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
I would imagine Didier has given the le hairdryeur at half time, the French have come out looking brighter.
No shot on target for them in the first half.
Rabiot has gone to left back. Lenglet the man who came off.
08:04 PM
Any changes at HT?
Yes by the looks – Coman is coming on.
Keane fin at half time: “The one thing you need in football is enthusiasm. They don’t look like they’ve got an appetite for the game. They’re not playing as a team. For all the quality they have, two lads in midfield are all over the place, the strikers are just hanging on hoping that their quality will be enough. That’s not enough at this level.
“I could play for Switzerland tonight. If you gave me time on the ball, I’d still be playing. They’re in huge trouble.”
08:00 PM
This seems to have been the key moment for ITV Hub
07:56 PM
People on Twitter are saying ITV Hub is not working well
07:52 PM
Half time: France 0 Switzerland 1
Well, well, well. Upset on the cards? France got their formation wrong, I think: they used a back three but it seemed to make them a bit flat, in terms of the geometry of their set up, and figuratively as well. The Swiss have been bright and busy.
The lad marking Mbappe, Elvedi, looked like he was in for a long evening but other colleagues have joined in to help out the right back, and Mbappe has been kept largely quiet. Antoine Griezmann has done naff all. Karim Benzema also very limited involvement.
07:50 PM
45+ mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Granit Xhaka sends Embolo, who blooters his cross well out. Maybe they need to get him looked at… anyway, that is half time.
07:49 PM
45+ mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Benzema drives into the box and shoots. Rebounds out, Embolo goes up for the header with Rabiot who has absolutely drilled him with the head. Ooof. God that could have been nasty. Well he’s up and seemingly okay to carry on but the Docs will be checking him over at HT, which is imminent.
07:48 PM
45 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Embolo surges into the box, he’s looked lively. France have plenty back and get it clear but he’s a threat that guy, no question.
07:46 PM
44 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Mbappe, maybe getting impatient, tries a low percentage shot from outside the box.
07:44 PM
42 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Deschamps looks a little uneasy as he paces that technical area.
07:43 PM
41 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Swiss corner. Lloris was rooted to his line, but it is cleared by one of his defenders.
07:42 PM
40 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Nice move this from the Swiss, Xhaka slots it through but Embolo’s touch lets him down. He could have been in there.
07:41 PM
39 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Looks like the French are in fact switching to a back four.
07:41 PM
38 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
There’s a drinks break and someone has got on the pitch – a streaker I guess judging from the amused jeers.
07:40 PM
37 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Rabiot has got forward well but his fellow wing back Benjamin Pavard, on the right, hasn’t really got up at all. So those three at the back are four and half at the back and it’s all a bit flat and defensive for the French.
07:39 PM
36 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Antoine G has a corner for the French. That’s easily dealt with.
07:37 PM
32 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Nico Elvedi has a hell of a job on, marking Mbappe. That just got harder: he has been booked for tripping Adrien Rabiot.
07:35 PM
30 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Varane has chopped down Steven Zuber.
Freekick comes in and Embolo has a header! Should have done better, and he knows it..
07:30 PM
28 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Rabiot is coming into the game, cutting inside and he’s let rip with a spiffy shot, not at all far wide.
07:29 PM
27 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Pogba with a nice ball fired in, Benzema controls it gorgeously with the outside of his boot as he spins, but really well marshalled by the Swiss defence there. Doing a decent job so far.
07:28 PM
25 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Mbappe strikes it cleanly, wall does its job and rebounds to the same player. Mbappe crushes the rebound wide. He can certainly give the ball a wallop.
07:27 PM
24 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
France have a freekick…
07:23 PM
22 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
France starting to tick… Rabiot drives to the goal-line, crosses, and the keeper does well just to flap that away with a striker lurking.
07:23 PM
20 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Xhaka looks to drive the Swiss forward but he has given it away… Pogba with great vision to pick out Mbappe, but he’s caught offside. He’s been caught off a few times the last couple of times I have watched him. Coach should tell him that he’s so quick he can just take a breath, non?
07:22 PM
19 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
A pass intended for Mbappe goes astray and he’s got a bit of a cob on.
07:20 PM
18 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
Approving reaction from Chris Sutton on the BBC about that goal! “This is a terrific header from the big cart-horse, he gets up superbly. He bullies Lenglet, nudging him to take him out of the game and then he powers the header into the far corner.
Rabiot gives it away..
07:19 PM
17 mins: France 0 Switzerland 1
That should make for a cracking game, shouldn’t it? The French will really have to have a go. They’ve got a freekick to get started with, Antoine Griezmann slings it in but the Swiss deal with that okay.
07:15 PM
GOAL! France 0 Switzerland 1 (Seferovic 15)
The Swiss have it in the goal! Nice build up play. Seferovic and Embolo are involved in a patient, clever build up. It’s out to Zuber on the left, decent delivery. The ball is hung up, Sferovic gives the centre back Lenglet a judicious wee shove and then puts the header away. Var check, but it is not going to save the French. Well played Switzerland!
07:15 PM
14 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
Switzerland enjoying a nice little spell of the ball here.
07:11 PM
9 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
A better few minutes for the Swiss, couple of attacks of their own, not letting France have it all their own way.
Presnel Kimpembe was limping a bit for Les Bleus a moment ago… we’ll keep an eye on him.
07:07 PM
6 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
Mbappe at it again, at Elvedi again. Xhaka comes back to help out and makes an important intervention.
07:06 PM
5 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
Another dangerous France attack, Benzema with a shot: Steven Zuber with a block.
07:06 PM
4 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
All France in the early stages. Ally McCoisy says: “Early signs are it might be a long night for Elvedi on the right side of that Swiss defence. Both Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema have had a go at him already.”
France: Hugo Lloris (captain); Presnel Kimpembe, Raphael Varane, Clement Lenglet, Adrien Rabiot, Benjamin Pavard; Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante; Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema
Switzerland: Yann Sommer; Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Steven Zuber, Silvan Widmer; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka (captain), Xherdan Shaqiri; Breel Embolo, Haris Seferovic
07:03 PM
2 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
Raphael Varane gets up well there! Towers above all for a free header and really could have done better there.
07:01 PM
1 mins: France 0 Switzerland 0
France in dark blue shirts and shorts, red socks. Swiss in all white. Mbappe the first player to show, runs down the left. France have won a corner.
07:00 PM
Deschamps had to solve
a problem with an injury at left back to Digne and Hernandez, so has decided to do away with one altogether and play three centre backs. We’ll see how it all works – right now!
06:55 PM
Anthem time!
The Swissers to play first.
06:54 PM
The players are in the tunnel
Here come the French boys. There are about 25,000 fans in. 24 degrees the temperature. Clive Tyldesley says that there are approx “1,500 fans” from each of the two competing countries.
06:53 PM
This man is among the problems the Swiss have to solve
06:46 PM
ITV’s pundits
are unanimous in their assessment that only complacency can defeat France tonight. That and possibly Xherdan Shaqiri. But the expert view appears to be that N’Golo Kante will just sit on him, and that should nullify the attacking threat of the Swiss.
06:40 PM
The winner of this match
will play Spain in the next round. Luis Enrique’s men have won the game of the tournament so far, beating the Croatians 5-3 aet. It was 3-1 late in normal time but Croatia forced extra time, had a great chance early in it, and then let in two.
06:36 PM
Fans are up for it!
06:13 PM
France tactics
World champions France appear to have changed their approach and the team news suggests they will play with three centre backs when they take on Switzerland in their European Championship last-16 clash.
Coach Didier Deschamps has made three changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Portugal in their last Group F match on Wednesday while the Swiss, who last played eight days ago when they beat Turkey to finish third in Group A, remain unchanged.
The French have added Clement Lenglet into the centre of defence alongside Presnel Kimpembe and Raphael Varane and prefer Adrien Rabiot on the left to Lucas Hernandez, and Benjamin Pavard on the right to Jules Kounde.
Corentin Tolisso is the other player who drops to the bench for France, whose midfielder Ngolo Kante celebrates his 50th cap.
Switzerland, who have gone out in the last 16 at the last three major tournaments, have stuck with the lineup from last Sunday’s 3-1 win in Baku.
It means flying full back Kevin Mbabu, who was an option for coach Vladimir Petkovic, remains on the bench despite much speculation he could start.
For Petkovic, the match is his 77th in charge of the Swiss side, equalling the record of Karl Rappan, who had four spells in charge of the national team between 1937 and 1963.
Teams again
France: Hugo Lloris (captain); Presnel Kimpembe, Raphael Varane, Clement Lenglet, Adrien Rabiot, Benjamin Pavard; Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante; Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema
Switzerland: Yann Sommer; Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Steven Zuber, Silvan Widmer; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka (captain), Xherdan Shaqiri; Breel Embolo, Haris Seferovic
05:59 PM
Team news
France: Lloris, Varane, Lenglet, Kimpembe, Pavard, Pogba, Kante, Rabiot, Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappe-Lottin. Subs: Lemar, Giroud, Tolisso, Zouma, Mandanda, Sissoko, Coman, Lucas, Ben Yedder, Maignan, Dubois, Thuram.
Switzerland: Sommer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Widmer, Freuler, Xhaka, Zuber, Shaqiri, Seferovic, Embolo. Subs: Mbabu, Zakaria, Vargas, Mvogo, Sow, Fassnacht, Benito, Mehmedi, Gavranovic, Fernandes, Kobel, Schar.
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)
05:55 PM
Extra time in the other game
We should have our teams for this one very shortly.
05:52 PM
What you reading this for?!
Get yourself over to Croatia 3 Spain 3!!!
05:50 PM
Kylian Mbappe arrives
05:47 PM
While we wait for this one to start
You’d be well advised to follow Rob Bagchi’s live blog of the Croatia 2 Spain 3 match… there are five or so minutes left and Modric’s boys are giving it their all.
05:24 PM
France vs Switzerland match preview
Good evening and welcome to our live blog of France vs Switzerland, in the last 16 stage of the Euros. We will have all the build up ahead of the 8pm kick off and the team news. In the meantime, here’s my colleague Luke Edwards to set the scene…
Before a ball had been kicked at this European Championships we knew who the favourites to win it were and nothing that has happened since has done anything to dent confidence in France.
They finished top of by far the toughest group, beating Germany before securing the draws against Portugal and Hungary which enabled Didier Deschamps’ side to qualify for the round of 16 top, setting up tonight’s first knockout test against Switzerland.
Other sides, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands, may have qualified with maximum points, but France did so leaving plenty in reserve.
Whenever they were put under pressure, most notably by Portugal in their final group game, where they fell behind twice, the French got back into it with the sort of effortless upping of performance levels, led by the Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot, that looked ominous for everyone else.
When you also factor in that arguably their best player, Paris Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappe has not scored a goal yet, it is impossible to escape the idea so much more can come from Les Blues starting against the Swiss.
The reigning world champions have not been at their best – more functionable than flair – but in the Germany game, in particular, they delivered a performance that was simply too good for one of the other major nations to handle.
It all points towards the completion of an enthralling test, a challenge to replicate the achievements of the last great French side which won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships two years later. Expectations are so high that anything less than a victory in the final at Wembley on July 11th will be perceived as a failure.
It is an expectation this generation are used to playing with. Just as they are comfortable with the comparison with those that conquered Europe and the rest of the world before them. They are not burdened by the weight of history, they seem to be inspired by it.
There was a time when we could allude to fragility in France. They have had talented teams before and failed, but when you have already won the World Cup, why would any of the players feel the strain of trying to win the Euros too?
There was pressure in the group stage and they came through with the air of an athlete qualifying from the heats – doing enough to get over the line ahead of their rivals but doing so with plenty left in reserve.
The concern for the rest of those with genuine title winning credentials – including England of course – is that you feel France could easily move through the gears as we enter the business end of the tournament.
Should he add a European Championship winning medal to the World Cup one he helped inspire France to three years ago, Pogba’s status as one of the world’s best will be assured in silverware.
Yet, at club level, he remains a difficult problem to work out. For Manchester United, there have always been flashes of brilliance, but also far too many mediocre displays and the criticism that comes with it.
“For me, it’s only the French Pogba that matters,”said Deschamps when asked about the difference between the player in blue compared to red.
“I don’t like talking about what’s going on at club football whether it’s [Ole Gunnar] Solskjær or any other coach. Players are different, coaches are different.
“The only thing that’s important to me is what he’s doing for the French team and the importance he has on the pitch. He is a born leader and a highly influential player.”
Pogba has never received the same sort of global acclaim someone like Zinedine Zidance received when he was the star of those tournament triumphs in 98 and 2000.
But Pogba will match him if France are crowned champions. He will no longer have to prove anything to anyone – not in France at least. The scene is set.