Football world in shock over unthinkable Euro 2020 moment

Football fans have erupted after Switzerland stunned France in Euro 2020 to claim a stunning upset victory on penalties.

France threw away a 3-1 lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation for the score to be locked at 3-3 by the end of extra time.

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When Swiss keeper Yann Sommer stopped French ace Kylian Mbappe's penalty kick that was it - a mighty upset had been decided and Switzerland would go through to the quarter final.

The Swiss took a shock lead in the 15th minute when Haris Seferovic rose to head home Steven Zuber's cross, and they could have had a second from the penalty spot early in the second but Hugo Lloris saved from Ricardo Rodriguez.

Karim Benzema struck twice in 103 seconds and Paul Pogba added a sumptuous strike to put France 3-1 up with 15 minutes to go, but Seferovic headed his second goal in the 81st minute before Mario Gavranovic fired a last-gasp equaliser.

France substitute Kingsley Coman fired a thundering drive off the bar in the dying seconds as the game finished 3-3 and went into extra time, with neither side able to score in the allotted 30 minutes.

Both teams were perfect from the penalty spot until Mbappe stepped up to take the last of France's five scheduled kicks, but Sommer dived to his right and got a strong hand to the striker's effort, swatting it away to send the Swiss through.

The incredible turn of events left football fans in raptures on social media.

Manuel Akanji, Gavranovic, Fabian Schar, Ruben Vargas and Admir Mehmedi all scored for the Swiss in the shootout but Mbappe was unable to follow successful spot-kicks from teammates Pogba, Giroud, Marcus Thuram and Presnel Kimpembe.

Switzerland advanced to the last eight of a big event for the first time since the 1954 World Cup with a first-ever victory over France in a competitive match.

It was the third of six round of 16 games this tournament to go to extra time but the first to be decided by penalties.

Morata a hero in Spain v Croatia thriller

Switzerland and France weren't the only ones to play out a thriller, with Spain and Croatia going the distance as well.

Alvaro Morata answered his critics in the best possible manner with a crucial extra-time goal as Spain triumphed 5-3 over Croatia in a classic Euro 2020 last 16 encounter.

Morata, on loan at Juventus, had received substantial abuse and threats on social media for his attacking performances as Spain struggled to impose themselves on the competition.

But he coolly collected Dani Olmo's deep cross in the 100th minute on Monday to lash a high shot into the net to tilt the tie in Spain's favour and Mikel Oyarzabal settled matters just three minutes later.

Spain had been comfortably on course for victory in regulation as goals from Pablo Sarabia, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ferran Torres overturned a comical long-distance own goal from teen sensation Pedri, which had given Croatia the lead.

Mislav Orsic scrambled a second for Croatia in 85 and then crossed for Mario Pasalic to head a 92nd minute equalizer for 3-3 which forced extra-time.

Spain keeper Unai Simon atoned for his first goal error by saving from Andrej Kramaric but Morata and Oyarzabal made no mistake to earn the three-time continental champions a date with the later winner of France v Switzerland in Friday's St Petersburg quarter-final.

"At this point in the tournament any team hat gets through to the quarter-final has deserved it and will be a good side," said Spain captain Sergio Busquets.

"We're a tough side to beat and hopefully that's the case in the next game as well."

With Reuters/AAP

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