France Starting XI – GK, Hugo Lloris – CB, Presnel Kimpembe – CB, Clement Lenglet – CB, Raphael Varane – LWB, Adrien Rabiot – RWB, Benjamin Pavard – CM, N’Golo Kante – CM, Paul Pogba – CAM, Antoine Griezmann – ST, Kylian Mbappe – ST, Karim Benzema
Switzerland Starting XI – GK, Yann Sommer – CB, Manuel Akanji – CB, Nico Elvedi – CB, Ricardo Rodriguez – LWB, Steven Zuber – RWB, Silvan Widmer – CM, Granit Xhaka – CM, Remo Freuler – CAM, Xherdan Shaqiri – ST, Breel Embolo – ST, Haris Seferovic
After Switzerland Narrowly made it through group A finishing 3rd, they find themselves up against group toppers and reigning world champions France in the round of 16.
2′- Antoine Griezmann’s driven corner towards the front post finds Raphael Varane but the CB’s header is well over the bar. A golden opportunity only minutes in.
15′- GOAL! – After some good play from Breel Embolo he plays it to Haris Seferovic whos shot is blocked but only as far as Steven Zuber, who on his weaker left foot puts in a teasing cross for Seferovic to head into Hugo LLoris’ bottom right corner. France 0 – 1 Switzerland
Embed from Getty ImagesUp to this point the game had been quite open with Kylian Mbappe looking the most likely to score but the Benfica striker puts his side ahead.
28′- Adrien Rabiot finds himself with room on the edge of the box to shoot but his effort, although struck well, never really had Yann Sommer worrying.
30′- Zuber, already involved heavily in the game so far, takes it past Varane who brings the wing-back down and receives a yellow card. The Swiss have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
32′- Nico Elvedi brings down Griezmann for a late challenge but advantage is played but for a very heavy touch from Rabiot France looked to be in. The referee books Elvedi for the earlier challenge in the build up.
Half Time – The two teams have been very equal up to this point with only the one goal in it. The French will look to turn up the pace of the game in the second half while Vladimir Petkovic will be delighted with how his team have managed to retain and move the ball.
45′- Substitution – Clement Lenglet comes off for Kingsley Coman
52′- Zuber breaks down the left with some great pace and gets into a one vs one against Benjamin Pavard. The Swiss player drags it onto his left and Pavard goes to ground bringing Zuber with him.
53′- VAR check in progress for a potential penalty. IT’S GIVEN by the referee!
55′- Ricardo Rodriguez steps up to the spot but Lloris makes a fantastic save down to his bottom right to keep the score at 1-0. There was no real conviction in the penalty and the French have a second chance.
56′- The game has really opened up here as Paul Pogba finds Mbappe out to the right whos first time curling effort goes just wide of the post.
57′- GOAL! – Mbappe’s delightful poke through to Karim Benzema sets the Madrid man away and with an excellent touch and nonchalant finish the game is all even just 2 minutes and 19 seconds after that big penalty miss. France 1 – 1 Switzerland
Embed from Getty Images59′- GOAL AGAIN! – Griezmann plays a one two with Mbappe and manages to get the chip away. A great save from Yann Sommer is only enough to prevent the inevitable as once again Benzema scores. A header albeit from one yard out but he will not care as he puts his team ahead. France 2 -1 Switzerland
Embed from Getty Images61′- Rodriguez is booked for a late challenge on Griezmann. An forgettable 10 minutes for the defender.
73′- Substitution – A double change for the Swiss as Xherdan Shaqiri comes off for Mario Gavranovic and Silvan Widmer makes way for Kevin Mbabu.
75′- WHAT A GOAL! The ball drops nicely to Pogba who finds himself a long way out from goal but an unreal curling effort finds the top right of the goal. France 3 – 1 Switzerland
Embed from Getty Images76′- Yellow card for Captain Granit Xhaka.
79′- Substitution – Another double change for Switzerland as Steven Zuber is replaced by Christian Fassnacht and Breel Embolo changed for Ruben Vargas.
81′- GOAL! Switzerland grab one back as Mbabu on as a sub puts in a delightful cross from the right for Seferovic who grabs his second header of the game with a downwards finish into the bottom left. France 3 – 2 Switzerland
Embed from Getty Images85′- Gavranovic on for less than 15 minutes controls the ball perfectly and dids out a shot that slowly rolls into the bottom right. However the decision is offside but that will be sure to give the Swiss hope.
87′- Substitution – Rodriguez is replaced by Admir Mehmedi for Switzerland.
88′- Substitution – Griezmann is replaced by Moussa Sissoko for France.
88′- Coman’s flailing arm catches Mbabu in the face resulting in a yellow card for the Frenchman.
90′- A LAST MINUTE EQUALISER! Xhaka finds a pinpoint pass through the French defence to Gavranovic who shifts it onto his right past Presnel Kimpembe and smashes the ball into the bottom left past a helpless Lloris. A Super-Sub from Petkovic. France 3 – 3 Switzerland
Embed from Getty Images94′- A long range pass from Xhaka finds Mehmedi in behind the French defence but for a slighty heavy touch the sub would have had a chance in the dying moments to win it for his side.
94′- Sissoko with some wonderful footwork manages to make the room for the cross that finds Coman. He brings it down on his chest a hits a powerful sliced half-volley the skips off the top of the bar. What an end to the 94 mins of normal time.
EXTRA TIME
1′- Pavard picks up a yellow for a late high boot on Mehmedi.
4′- Substitution – Benzema makes way for Olivier Giroud.
5′- Coman’s cross evades all in the box and falls to Pavard who’s attempted shot is expertly saved by Sommer. If the connection was better from the full-back we could have very likely see another goal.
7′- Substitution – Seferovic comes off for defender Fabian Schar.
18′- Manuel Akanji picks up a yellow for a mis-timed tackle on Pogba around the half way line.
20′- A well weighted ball from Pogba splits the Swiss defence and finds Mbappe who looks to have got caught in two minds as he fires the ball into the side-netting with his weaker left side.
21′- Substitution – Coman who seemed to be struggling with an injury is forced to come off for Marcus Thuram.
29′- Kimpembe’s lofted ball from deep finds substitute Giroud who manages to get a good header on target but nothing that had Sommer scrambling as he easily catches the ball.
PENALTIES
Gavranovic lifts the ball to the left hand side and scores past Lloris. 0-1
Pogba steps up and fires it into the top left of the goal. 1-1
Schar side foots the ball into the right hand side with a very classy finish. 1-2
Giroud sends Sommer the wrong way and scores. 2-2
Akanji, with a stutter places the ball to the bottom left of Lloris. 2-3
Sommer, who goes the right way, is unabale to save Thuram’s clean finish to the bottom left. 3-3
Vargas, who’s shot is nearly saved is powerful enough to carry it into the back of the net. 3-4
Kimpembe rifles the ball to the top right side of the goal leaving Sommer helpless. 4-4
Mehmedi places the ball into the bottom right with confidence. 4-5
Mbappe steps up and… ITS SAVED BY SOMMER! A strong left hand from the GK means that on sudden death penalties Switzerland will progress to the Quarter finals and knock out the reigning world champions.
Embed from Getty ImagesWatch the match highlights here.
