Manchester United star Paul Pogba added to his Euro 2020 highlight reel with a wonderful goal against Switzerland. But it was not a happy night for him as the team bowed out on penalty kicks.
A thriller of a last 16 game which ended in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. France had led 3-1 and looked to be cruising.
Switzerland led 1-0 at half-time and then had a second half penalty, which was saved by Hugo Lloris.
This was a turning point, as Karim Benzema went up and scored two goals for France in the next five minutes.
Pogba sealed France’s win with an outrageous long range strike, curling the ball from outside the box into the top corner.
It was his first goal for France since the World Cup final, and it was a special way to score it.
France needed his goal as Switzerland went on to score twice themselves late on to force extra time.
Pogba has had an outstanding tournament and he has shown what he is capable of.
He is a leader in this French side and is allowed to go forth and attack, with Ngolo Kante playing with him as part of a three man midfield (who made six tackles), also featuring Adrien Rabiot.
Pogba was delighted as he celebrated, before he was mobbed by his French teammates.
Pogba celebration
All round excellence
Pogba’s performance was an outstanding one even apart from his wonder goal.
The Manchester United midfielder created four goalscoring chances, the joint highest on the pitch alongside Antoine Griezmann.
Pogba made five successful dribbles, the highest on the pitch.
Even amid the madness of extra-time, Pogba completed 92 per cent of his passes, while touching the ball 101 times.
The game will go down as a thriller and one of the best of the tournament, and Pogba more than played his part.
France defended horrendously at times, with Presnel Kimpembe and Clement Llenglet both making errors.
It wasn’t perfect…
Despite the wondergoal and the numbers, Pogba’s game was not quite perfect.
He was too casual with the ball at the halfway line in the 90th minute and lost possession, which led to Switzerland’s equaliser.
This was the typical Pogba lapse in concentration United fans have learned to expect.
His France teammates let him down with some poor defending, but Pogba will look back with disappointment at his own contribution to the late equaliser.
Pogba scored his penalty in the shootout, firing it like a missile into the top corner, only for Kylian Mbappe to miss as France lost 5-4.
It is more penalty agony for Pogba after United lost the Europa League final against Villarreal.
This time though, Pogba can say he played a stormer. It wasn’t perfect, but his reputation is soaring after a strong tournament individually.
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