Euro 2020: Pele Cheers Up Kylian Mbappe After France's Exit

 

Brazilian football legend, Pepe, has thrown his weight behind Kylian Mbappe following his penalty miss that resulted in France's defeat to Switzerland in shootouts after a 3-3 draw. 

The Paris Saint-Germain player is a well-celebrated striker following his impressive performance at the club and international football competitions, but he had a difficult night on Monday, having to be the reason France was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Euro 2020. 

Cheering up the 22-year-old following his loss, Pepe tweeted: "Keep up your head, Kylian! Tomorrow is the first day of a new journey." The miss was the last to be taken after Mehmeti converted his spot-kick sending Hugo Lloris diving wide.

Karim Benzema inspired the Fifa 2018 World Cup champions in a comeback and leveled up with the Swiss by scoring the equalizer that canceled out Haris Steferovic's opening goal. The Real Madrid forward later put his country in the lead before Paul Pogba scored the third goal from 30-yard and double the lead. 

France's hope of reaching the quarterfinals began to suffer an unpleasant fate when the Swiss rallied and scored two late goals - by Steferovic and Mario Savranovic respectively - that forced the game into extra time. After goalless extra time, Mbappe was the only player who missed a penalty giving the Swiss their first qualification to the quarterfinal in a major competition since 1954.