SWITZERLAND hero Yann Sommer had to check with VAR whether he was on his line before celebrating after saving Kylian Mbappe’s penalty.
The Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper, 32, stopped the deciding spot-kick in the shootout to knock France out of Euro 2020.
Les Bleus squandered a two-goal lead at the National Arena in Romania as Switzerland secured their place in the quarter-finals.
After nine successful penalties in the shootout, Mbappe’s effort from 12 yards out was expertly kept out by Sommer.
But instead of instantly celebrating, the ex-Basel ace had to check with the assistant referee to see whether he was off his line.
However replays showed his foot was just on the line, and after VAR deemed Sommer’s save to be legal, he sprinted off to the corner flag followed by his jubilant team-mates.
Fans quickly took to social media to state that VAR ruined Sommer’s moment.
One tweeted: “Sommer having to stop and check there is sickening. That’s why VAR should go. It’s not worth it.”
Another commented: “How awful Yann Sommer couldn’t celebrate that pen save straight away cos of VAR.”
A third added: Hate that Yann Sommer’s celebration was delayed because there was nearly a VAR check or something.”
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Meanwhile one remarked: “VAR ruining Sommer’s moment there … he should be straight in crowd with his shirt off but he has to wait and see if it’s OK, moments gone.”
One simply stated: “How sad is that though that Sommer had to wait before he could celebrate his team beating the French. F*** VAR.”
Following the game, Sommer said: “What a game, what a night of football. The end is crazy, it is beautiful but how we came back during the game from two goals down, I am really proud of this team.
“We always believed, we always said if we are down we will go to the end and not give up. It was our chance to go through. it is incredible how we played.
“Anything is possible but that is always in football. We believed it, we are a small country but we have a lot of quality and have experience in our squad. We showed it.”
Sommer’s penalty save made history for Switzerland as their win over France was their first victory in the knockout stages of the European Championship.
They will now face Spain in the quarter-finals after Luiz Enrique’s men beat Croatia 5-3.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
