Euro 2020: It’s incredible, we played with heart and character, says Switzerland’s hero Yann Sommer

Switzerland goalkeeper Yann 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 penalty save to give his team a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over World Cup champion France on Monday. The match had finished 3-3.

Sommer dived to his right to save the final penalty by Kylian Mbappe.

“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.

“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.”

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka said they had written a new chapter, which was particularly satisfying after the stinging criticism that followed their 3-0 loss to Italy in Rome on June 16 in their second Group A match.

“I’ve always said this team deserved a lot more than you can read,” he said in the post-match news conference.

“There was so much discussion about this team. They said we were arrogant but I can guarantee you one thing, we really wrote a history. All Swiss people can be really proud. We achieved something that is impossible to describe with words.

“I had a positive feeling and in my opinion we played a perfect first half. Then we missed a penalty and conceded three goals. This was a slap in the face but we committed mistakes.

“But that we still turned it around against a team such as France, with all the top players in their ranks, is just unbelievable,” Xhaka added.