Date: June 20, 2014

Result: Switzerland 2-5 France

Scorers:

Switzerland:

  • Blerim Džemaili 81
  • Xhaka 86

France:

  • Olivier Giroud 17
  • Blaise Matuidi 18
  • Mathieu Valbuena 41
  • Karim Benzema 68
  • Moussa Sissoko 73

Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Attendance: 51,003

Match overview: Haris Seferović striker in the 3rd minute of stoppage time to beat Ecuador was the latest winner scored in this World Cup so far. Karim Benzema’s double versus Honduras was the first time a French player had scored twice in a World Cup game since Zinedine Zidane in the final of France ’98.

Key moment: The second goal coming within 13 second of the opener effectively destroyed Switzerland. Thereafter, they were forced to chase the game and left themselves far too open to the counter-attack..

Man of the match: Karim Benzema. He may have missed a penalty but Benzema was at the heart of France’s attacking play. Scored one and was unlucky to see another chalked off as it hit the net just as the final whistle blew. It  is hard to imagine that this is the same striker who recently endured a 16-month international goal drought.

Matter of fact: Olivier Groud’s opening goal tonight was the 100th France have scored at the World Cup finals.

Talking point: France were outrageously good for the first 80 minutes. Disregard the two late Swiss goals – the game was already won by then – this was a real statement of intent from Didier Deschamps’ side. Against a side renowned for its organisation and defensive nous, it was as impressive in its way as Holland’s 5-1 demolition of Spain a week ago.

Stats:

Goal attempts

  • Switzerland 16
  • France 22

On target

  • Switzerland 6
  • France 14

Corners

  • Switzerland 5
  • France 3

Line-ups:

Switzerland:

  • 01 Benaglio
  • 02 Lichtsteiner
  • 13 Rodriguez
  • 08 Inler
  • 20 Djourou
  • 05 Von Bergen (Senderos – 9′ )
  • 23 Shaqiri
  • 11 Behrami (Dzemaili – 45′ )
  • 09 Seferovic (Drmic – 69′ )
  • 10 Xhaka
  • 18 Mehmedi

France:

  • 01 Lloris
  • 02 Debuchy
  • 03 Evra
  • 06 Cabaye
  • 04 Varane
  • 05 Sakho (Koscielny – 66′ )
  • 18 Sissoko
  • 14 Matuidi
  • 09 Giroud (Pogba – 63′ )
  • 08 Valbuena (Griezmann – 82′ )
  • 10 Benzema

Scorers:

Switzerland:

  • Blerim Džemaili 81
  • Xhaka 86

France:

  • Olivier Giroud 17
  • Blaise Matuidi 18
  • Mathieu Valbuena 41
  • Karim Benzema 68
  • Moussa Sissoko 73

Yellow cards:

France:

  • Cabaye 89

Referee:  Björn Kuipers (Holland)