After amazing goal, Swiss fans leave disappointed
Swiss football fans will have to find new teams to cheer for now that the national team has been eliminated from the European football championships in France.
On Saturday afternoon, several Swiss cities, restaurants and bars hosted public viewings for fans to gather and watch the match against Poland on a big screen – a way of enjoying the big crowd atmosphere without the expense of a trip abroad.
Both teams scored a single goal, but Poland edged out Switzerland during the penalty shootout, 5-4.
The Union of Europe Football Association (UEFA) summarised the match on its websiteExternal link: “Granit Xhaka sent his spot kick wide as Poland reached their first ever EURO quarter-final, despite being pegged back by an incredible Xherdan Shaqiri strike.”
British football team Manchester United was also impressed with the goal, and tweeted its praise.
Xherdan Shaqiri scores the Goal of the tournament so far 🔥!! #SUIExternal link #MUFCExternal link pic.twitter.com/XSP5UeHCHlExternal link
— Manchester United (@ManUtds_News) June 25, 2016External link
Since the mid-1990s, Switzerland has qualified for European and global football championships. In 2008, Switzerland and Austria co-hosted the UEFA EURO.
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