Swiss football fans took to the streets to celebrate their side's victory against France (there is no longer any requirement for people to wear masks outdoors in Switzerland).
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
The Swiss national football team has reached the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the first time since 1954 with a dramatic victory against France.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Deutsch
de
Schweizer Fussball-National-Mannschaft “legt Last der Geschichte ab”
Switzerland beat the reigning world champions 5-4 on penalties after the two sides traded three goals apiece over 120 minutes of a dramatic see-saw match.
The victory in the last 16 stage of the European Football Championship (Euro 2020) on Monday night sparked scenes of celebration throughout the country.
“Last night we witnessed an explosion of joy in every city in Switzerland,” proclaimed the Le Temps newspaperExternal link. “The historic victory of the national football team overwhelmed a nation with happiness.”
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung said the team had “shed the burden of historyExternal link” after 67 years of failing to qualify for the last eight of either the Euros or the World Cup.
Despite starting the match in Bucharest as underdogs, Switzerland went into an early lead and missed a penalty before France stormed back to score three goals. Two Swiss strikes in the last ten minutes forced the match into extra-time and then into a penalty shoot-out with the score tied at 3-3.
Switzerland scored all five of their penalties before goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved the last French effort to send his side into a quarterfinal meeting with Spain on Friday.
‘Well-drilled but limited’
The French media was unforgiving of their team, with Le Figaro condemning their performance as a “collective shipwreckExternal link”.
International media headlines focused on France’s failure rather than the success of the Swiss team. Switzerland “defied logic and formExternal link” to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, says the British Guardian.
The New York Times appears amazedExternal link that a “well-drilled, but limited – and also quite uninspiring – Swiss team” could pull off such a result.
But all agree that Switzerland contributed to a dramatic and absorbing day of football – Spain had beaten Croatia in an earlier rollercoaster match. “Magic Monday – the best day in Euros history?External link” asks the BBC Sport website.
More
More
Multicultural Switzerland hoping not to come unstuck at Euro 2020
This content was published on
Fans, politicians and officials will be hoping the Swiss team can keep politics off the pitch this time.
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss Solidarity raises over CHF10 million for victims of extreme weather
This content was published on
The money raised will be used to help those affected by the recent storms and flooding in the cantons of Ticino, Graubünden, and Valais.
Swiss giant Roche given green light for lung cancer drug in Canada
This content was published on
According to a recent study, Roche’s Alecensaro reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 76% compared to chemotherapy alone.
Swiss luxury watch market hit hard by China-led slump
This content was published on
Sales of Swiss-made luxury watches are in sharp retreat as nervous consumers reconsider splashing out on expensive timepieces and demand slumps.
Swiss foreign minister briefs Russian counterpart on Ukraine peace summit
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York, during Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council.
Criminal proceedings filed over Swiss components in Russian weapons
This content was published on
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs has opened more than 50 administrative criminal proceedings for violations of sanctions against Russia.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland: 12 nations, one team
This content was published on
The Euro 2016 football championships have kicked off in Paris and Switzerland are once again the most multicultural of the 24 teams taking part.
Olympics: ‘Sport has a responsibility to do no harm’
This content was published on
The head of the Geneva-based Centre for Sport and Human Rights says athletes’ freedom of expression is a huge opportunity to advance human rights.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.