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Soccer's most expensive young player missed a decisive penalty that saw reigning world champion France crash out of Euro 2020

Jun 29, 2021, 05:33 IST
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Kylian Mbappe. Getty
  • Kylian Mbappe missed the decisive penalty as world champion France crashed out of Euro 2020.
  • France was beaten in a shoot-out by Switzerland after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
  • Elsewhere, Spain beat Croatia 5-3 in an equally crazy game at Denmark's Parken Stadium.
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Kylian Mbappe missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out as world champion France crashed out of Euro 2020 at the hands of Switzerland.

France went behind in the last-16 tie thanks to a fine headed goal from Benfica striker Haris Seferović in the 15th minute.

A 90 second brace from Karim Benzema in the second-half turned things around for Didier Deschamp's side, before Paul Pogba looked to have sealed victory with a superb long range strike.

However a late second goal from Seferović and an injury time equalizer from Mario Gavranović took the tie to extra time and later penalties.

Nine players in a row converted from 12-yards before Mbappe then missed the final kick to hand the Swiss an unlikely but hard fought victory.

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Mbappe, who signed for Paris Saint Germain for a fee of $180 million three years ago, scored four goals as France won the World Cup in 2018, but has been unable to replicate that form this summer at the Euros.

The 22-year-old did not manage a single goal during France's Euro 2020 run, in which it won just one match - that being against Germany in its opening fixture.

After the defeat to Switzerland, head coach Deschamps consoled the youngster, insisting he was brave to take the final spot kick.

"Kylian Mbappé is incredibly sad, as are all the players," he said. "But nobody can be upset with him as he took on the responsibility of taking the fifth penalty."

Alvaro Morata was Spain's hero against Croatia. Getty

Prior to France's shock defeat to Switzerland, Spain beat Croatia 5-3 in an equally thrilling affair at Denmark's Parken Stadium.

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Croatia took the lead on the night in bizarre fashion when Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon failed to control Pedri's back pass, allowing the ball to roll into his own net.

Goals from Pablo Sarabia, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Ferran Torres turned the tide in Spain's favor, but two strikes in the last seven minutes from Croatia's Mislav Orsic and Mario Palasic took the match to extra time.

Alvaro Morata, whose family was threatened after he missed a chance in Spain's final group game, then scored what proved to be the decisive goal before Mikel Oyarzabal added a late strike to cement victory for Luis Enrique's side.

"An incredible match," said Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales after the match.

"There was a moment when we were worried about elimination but then up popped Morata with a great goal. I'm very pleased for him."

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Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta said: "Boy, we had to suffer there. It's been a few tournaments since we went through a knockout match.

"But today we 'broke the ice' against the World Cup runners-up. It wasn't great to be scored against twice late in normal time, but we were the better team in extra time and we deserve to go through."

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