France produced a
captivating performance to demolish Switzerland 5-2 and
secure a second-round
spot at the World Cup.
Having survived a physical Honduras side in
their Group E opener, France
faced a more difficult task in
Salvador, but they ran out deserved winners.
Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi and Mathieu
Valbuena were all on target in a breathless
opening 45 minutes in which Karim Benzema
missed a penalty.
He made amends with his third goal of the
tournament in the second half, before
applying the assist for Moussa Sissoko to make
it five.
Switzerland who beat Ecuador 2-1 in their
first pool match were stunned by two goals
in as many first-half minutes, first Giroud
crashing a header past Diego Benaglio, before
the goalkeeper was beaten easily by Matuidi’s
shot.
Granit Xhaka had a goal ruled out for
Switzerland, before Benzema – who notched a
brace against Honduras – saw Benaglio save
his spot-kick.
It made little difference as Valbuena capped
of a wonderful counter-attack in the 40th
minute to effectively end the contest by half-
time.
Benzema’s close-range strike and
a Sissoko effort added further gloss in the
second period, before Blerim Dzemaili and
Xhaka bagged late consolations.
France are now on the brink of the last 16
having taken a maximum six points, while
Switzerland still have work to do in their final
pool encounter with Honduras.
Switerland’s woes started early when Steve von
Bergen caught a boot in the face from Giroud
and had to be replaced.
And Giroud was in the thick of the action
again when he put France ahead in the 17th
minute.
The Arsenal striker jumped highest to thump
Valbuena’s corner past Benaglio who, despite
getting a full hand to the ball, could not keep
the effort out.
Just a minute later France took complete
control.
Benzema pounced on Valon Behrami’s poor
pass before playing in Matuidi on the left of
the box and he side-footed past Benaglio at
the near-post, the goalkeeper perhaps beaten
too easily.
France were handed a reprieve when Xhaka
turned home Gokhan Inler’s mishit shot, only
to be denied by the offside flag.
Having escaped, Les Bleus missed the chance
to extend the lead in the 33rd minute when
referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot
after Johan Djourou recklessly felled
Benzema.
However, Benaglio dived to his right to keep
out the Real Madrid striker’s spot-kick before
Yohan Cabaye inexplicably volleyed the
rebound against the crossbar.
But France did get a third just five minutes
before the break.
Raphael Varane brought the ball away
following a Swiss corner before producing an
exquisite pass that sent Giroud free down the
left and he in turn laid the ball across goal
for Valbuena, who could not miss from inside
the six-yard box.
Switzerland showed more intent after the
break, but were restricted to long shots.
Despite the improvement, France had a fourth
when substitute Paul Pogba’s fine ball with the
outside of his boot was swept home by
Benzema, Philippe Senderos not helping his
side with a poor attempted clearance.
France made it five just six minutes later,
Benzema once again involved as he laid on for
Sissoko to drill home from the right side of the
box.
Dzemaili pulled a goal back with a low 30-
yard strike in the 81st minute, before Xhaka
added further respectability to the scores
when he met Gokhan Inler’s chipped pass with
a superb guided volley, but it was too little too
late for the swiss.