Kylian Mbappe has issued an apology via social media after missing the crucial penalty that resulted in France losing to Switzerland and exiting the 2020 UEFA European Championship.
It was a thrilling round of 16 encounter for the neutral supporter as Switzerland open the scoring through Haris Seferovic in the first half, before France stormed into the lead through a brace from Karim Benzema and a stunning strike from Pogba.
Scroll through the gallery above to see the action between France and Switzerland in their Euro 2020 round of 16 clash.
Two late goals from the Swiss, another from Seferovic and a last-gasp equaliser from Mario Gavranovic, took the scoreline to 3-3 and the game to extra-time where no further breakthrough was made, and penalties beckoned.
With every player having scored before he stepped up to take France’s all-important fifth penalty, Mbappe saw his effort saved by Yann Sommer, ensuring that Les Blues would be taking no further part in the competition.
After the match, manager Didier Deschamps refused to blame the forward for France’s shock defeat to Switzerland in Bucharest, and insisted that nobody can be annoyed with the 22-year-old, while the player himself took to social media to apologise for his penalty miss.
“It is very difficult to turn the page,” Mbappe wrote on Twitter. “I am sorry for this penalty. I wanted to help the team but I failed.
“Finding sleep will be difficult, but unfortunately those are the risks of the sport that I love so much.
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“I know that you, the fans, are disappointed, but I would still like to thank you for your support and always believing in us.
“The most important thing is to come back even stronger next time. Congratulations and good luck to the Swiss.”
Deschamps later added that the Paris Saint-Germain talisman was affected by the incident.
“Kylian takes responsibility, he feels guilty, but he shouldn’t, the squad is united, it always has been,” the tactician said, according to Fox Sports.
France’s No. 10 also got messages of support from some other footballing personalities in the hours after the match, including his club teammate Neymar and Brazilian icon Pele, who wrote on Twitter: “Keep your head up, Kylian. Tomorrow is the first day of a new journey.” -Kickoff
