Switzerland beats France 5-4 on penalties at Euro 2020
Bucharest: Au revoir France, this summer belongs to Yann Sommer. The Switzerland goalkeeper, who left in the middle of the European Championship's group stage to be with his wife for the birth of their second daughter, made the biggest save of his life against one of the best players in the world.
That gave the Swiss a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over World Cup champion France on Monday and a spot in the quarterfinals of a major soccer tournament for the first time in 67 years. The match had finished 3-3.
Sommer dived to his right to save the final penalty by Kylian Mbapp , the young France forward who became a superstar at the last World Cup by scoring in the final.
I think that everything we had in us, we left out on the field, Sommer said. I'm unbelievably proud of this team, how we've done it this evening.
Sommer, who flew back to Germany after the team's 3-0 loss to Italy to be home when his daughter was born on June 16, made the decisive save on the 10th penalty after the previous nine had all been successful.
What an evening of football, Sommer said.
"It was our chance to finally go through the round of 16, because we never made it before. It's incredible. We played with heart and with character. It's amazing.
The Swiss haven't reached the quarterfinals at a major tournament since they hosted the World Cup in 1954. This team also ended a run of three consecutive exits in the round of 16. They were knocked out by Poland after losing a penalty shootout 5-4 at Euro 2016.
We made history tonight, Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka said.
"We are all very proud.
The Swiss will next play Spain in the quarterfinals on Friday in St. Petersburg. It was the third game in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 to go to extra time but the first to be decided by penalties.
Haris Seferovic put Switzerland in the lead with a header in the 15th minute as France struggled to work itself into the game. But that all changed early in the second half when the Swiss were awarded a penalty.
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the team's captain, saved Ricardo Rodr guez's spot kick in the 55th minute and that seemed to wake up his teammates. Karim Benzema scored moments later in the 57th, and then again in the 59th to give France the quick-turnaround lead.
We went through every emotion possible and honestly that was football the way we like it," Lloris said.
"The two goals we conceded in the last quarter of an hour really hurt us.
Paul Pogba made it 3-1 in the 75th with a right-foot shot from 20 meters and it looked like the game was out of reach. But just as quickly as France had taken over the match, they let it go again.
Seferovic scored another header in the 81st minute and substitute Mario Gavranovic made it 3-3 with only seconds remaining.
France had been trying to win back-to-back major titles for the second time. The French won the World Cup in 1998 and followed that up with the title at Euro 2000. Five years ago, France lost in the Euro 2016 final, but then won the 2018 World Cup.
Mbapp was only 19 when France won that title in Moscow, and he became youngest player since Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final.
The Brazilian great was quick to offer his support after the heart-breaking miss in Bucharest.
Keep your head up, Kylian! Tomorrow is the first day of a new journey, @KMbappe, the Brazil great wrote on Twitter.
France coach Didier Deschamps played on those winning teams more than 20 years ago, and was trying to become the first man to achieve the feat as both a player and a coach.
It hurts but we have to accept it, Deschamps said.
It's football. Everyone is really disappointed. Everyone's sad in the locker room. But the whole squad is still united in this difficult moment. (AP)
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BJP attempting to capture power in Karnataka, be cautious and stay united: Kharge to state Cong
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Apr 16 (PTI): Accusing the BJP of trying to capture power in Karnataka by overthrowing the Congress government, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday asked his partymen and leaders here to be cautious and to stay united, overcoming internal differences.
Hitting out at the Centre for ED's chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, he said, neither the party or its leadership will fear or bow down because of such things, and will continue to raise voice for the welfare of the country and its people.
"...what have you (BJP) done for the country? Only use ED, Income Tax and CBI and try to create fear. Wherever the Congress is in power they want to capture power there by overthrowing the governments," Kharge said.
Similar attempts are on in Karnataka, he claimed, and said, "Our people (Congress) here should be cautious. Whatever the internal difference may be among you, you should remain united. If not, Modi and Shah together will swallow the poor people. To protect people you have been given power. Protecting them is in your hands. They (BJP) are sitting there, looting and creating rifts."
"BJP tries to fear Congress leaders, but we won't fear or budge. We will always fight with your blessings and support. We will keep the country united, build the country and kick out the BJP government," he added.
Kharge was addressing a job fair event here organised by the state government that was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar and a host of ministers from the state, among others.
Alleging that the central government's focus is more towards targeting important leaders from other political parties who speak out, by using ED, CBI and CVC, Kharge said National Herald paper was started in 1937 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to mobilise the people of the country towards the freedom struggle, along with papers in two other languages.
"On such an organisation that worked for the country, ED was asked to probe and a chargesheet has been filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.This is shameful...you can't fear us by making ED to file a chargesheet on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. We and our leaders will never bow down because of such things, and will always work for the good of the country," he added.
Hitting out at the BJP for repeatedly accusing the Congress of insulting Ambedkar, the Congress chief asked, "Did RSS and BJP love and respect him? No...."
"It is Congress which made Ambedkar the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution and the Constitution given by him is alive even today. It is you people (BJP), who are today trying to finish off that Constitution," he said, as he accused the BJP of trying to divide the country and society, and creating rift between religions.
Noting that people may take objection to him criticising PM Narendra Modi and BJP at a government programme, Kharge later while addressing another event said, recently the PM criticised Congress party and its governments, while speaking at a government event in Haryana.
"When Modi can speak such a thing at a government function, why can't I as the Leader of Opposition and former MP and MLA from here. If I don't tell the truth to the people here, it will be a mistake on my part," he said.
The central government repeatedly tries to blame or criticise the Congress, the AICC chief said, "Be it any issue, they criticise Congress, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi for everything. You (BJP/central govt) do your job....Rahul Gandhi's father (Rajiv Gandhi) and grandmother (Indira Gandhi) died for the country and on members of such a people, you are filing the ED case."
Noting that there is no AIIMS hospital in Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) division or Kalyana Karnataka region and that he has written several letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Health Minister in this regard, Kharge said, despite repeated requests they are not showing their grace towards Kalaburagi.
"I don't know what the reason is. Is it because I'm the Opposition Leader (in Rajya Sabha) and I'm from here? ....I don't know why the neglect is? When I ask about AIIMS for Kalaburagi, they say Siddaramaiah and the Karnataka government is not ready to give the land. I have said that I'm ready to get the amount of land they want....." he said, accusing the central government of neglecting the region.
If AIIMS is given to Kalaburagi, it will benefit the surrounding districts and he will write another letter to the Centre and also ensure that a letter goes from the chief minister too. He further said, "I have no issue if it comes up in neighbouring Raichur district. If it (AIIMS) is given to any part of our region either Raichur or Koppal, I'm fine with it, it will benefit the region. I want it in this region of Kalyana Karnataka as it is a backward region."
Kharge said he had told the chief minister and other ministers to focus on bringing industries to Kalaburagi and Kalyana Karnataka region.
