Euro 2020: France boss Didier Deschamps takes responsibility for shock last-16 defeat to Switzerland

France boss Didier Deschamps insists he takes full responsibility after his side were dumped out of Euro 2020 at the last-16 by Switzerland.

Les Bleus were seen by many as the favourites to lift the European Championships this summer but were stunned by the Swiss underdogs on penalties after pegging them back to 3-3 from two goals down.

France looked good for a quarter-final clash with Spain after Karim Benzema’s double and Paul Pogba’s wonder strike from distance, but a brace of his own from Haris Seferovic and a last-gap goal from Mario Gavranovic took it to extra time.

Les Bleus were stunned by the Swiss on penalties despite leading 3-1 with 10 minutes to go

The 2018 World Cup winners look jaded in the final period and couldn’t find a winner, and Kylian Mbappe missed the decisive kick as Switzerland won 5-4 on spot kicks, with their players delirious at the final whistle to reach their first quarter-final at a major tournament since 1954.

Deschamp was quick to shoulder the blame for the shock loss and said the squad needed ‘time’ to recover, admitting it was ‘complicated’ to explain their failure to see off a beatable opponent. 

‘I am responsible, when things go badly, I am with them and they are with me,’ he admitted after the game.

Kylian Mbappe (centre) missed a decisive spot kick as the tournament favourites were ousted

Switzerland were sent into delirium as they booked their first major quarter-final since 1954

‘There is a unity and solidarity in this squad. We will need to time to manage this. Nobody can be annoyed with Kylian (Mbappe). He is obviously very affected by it.’

France were 3-1 up with less than ten minutes to go before Seferovic struck for his second of the night to make things interesting, and Switzerland were in ecstasy when Gavranovic slotted home from Granit Xhaka’s pass.

Deschamps conceded that his side showed ‘weakness’ to allow their opponents back into the game and added that the players are hurting in the dressing room.

Deschamps said his side showed ‘weakness’ to allow Switzerland to come from two goals down

‘It is always complicated to explain. We failed with our first half, we did what was needed to turn it around in the 2nd half. 

‘Usually, our strength is being solid, we showed weakness that allowed Switzerland back in. This is hard, it hurts, we did everything we could for this to end differently.

‘That’s football. Today, this tournament ends for us today. There are no magic formulae, there are balances to find.’