FRANCE VS SWITZERLAND:FRANCE WINS BY 5-2,FULL MATCH REPORT,HIGHLIGHTS,GOALS,KICK OFFS

World Cup 2014: France Defeats Switzerland, 5-2

By LAWRIE MIFFLIN

France truly blitzed Switzerland — midfielders, forwards, wing backs all surging downfield together. Winning 5-2, the French got their five goals from five different players: Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema and Moussa Sissoko.

The Swiss had moments of possession, but they did seem like mere moments. In the final 10 minutes of the game, Switzerland managed to score two goals — by Blerim Dzemaili and Granit Xhaka — which will help them if goal difference becomes a factor in deciding who goes through to the next round. But they shouldn't need that. Their final opponent is Honduras, and if the Swiss win that game, they are likely to be safe.

France, now on top of the group with 6 points from two games, only need to tie Ecuador in their final match, next Wednesday, to get through.

An optimistic omen for the French is that the last time they won their two opening games (as they've done here) was in 1998 — and they went on to win the whole tournament, in Paris. Although no European team has ever won the World Cup in South America, France looks like a fine candidate to try to be the first.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• 18': Goooal - again!! France 2-0

  Almost from the re-start, Benzema picks off an errant back pass by Valon Behrami in midfield, and sends a long diagonal ball to Matuidi, who shoots immediately and tucks it inside the near post.

   REPLAY

  SWITZERLANDFRANCE9202091191823131111108910140'15'30'HALF60'75'F17'

  Possession Gained or kept Lost

  The sequence of events that led to Matuidi's goal at 17'.

• 40': Gooooal!!! France 3-0

  This began with a Swiss corner kick, which Raphael Varane quickly relays out to Giroud on the left wing — Giroud made a lung-busting run all the way downfield and into the area, where he sent a simple cross to Valbuena, who tapped it in. Nothing Benaglio could do.

• 

  Switzerland's goalkeeper Diego Benaglio could not stop a shot by France's Olivier Giroud during Friday's match. Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

  GOALS

  •  81' Blerim Dzemaili
  •  87' Granit Xhaka

   

  •  17' Olivier Giroud 
  •  18' Blaise Matuidi 
  •  40' Mathieu Valbuena 
  •  67' Karim Benzema
  •  73' Moussa Sissoko 

  STATS	Switzerland	France
  Shots (on goal)	17 (8)	22 (15)
  Fouls	12	15
  Corner Kicks	5	3
  Offsides	1	2
  Possession	58%	42%
  Yellow Cards	0	1
  Red Cards	0	0
  Saves	7	2

  WHAT'S AT STAKE

  Both teams have a victory; the winner here will advance, but the loser won't be dead.

  GROUP E	W	L	D	GF	GA	Pts
  France	2	0	0	8	2	6
  Ecuador	1	1	0	3	3	3
  Switzerland	1	1	0	4	6	3
  Honduras	0	2	0	1	5	0

  TODAY'S SCHEDULE

  NOON ET
  Argentina
  Iran

   

  3 P.M. ET
  Germany
  Ghana

  6 P.M. ET
  Nigeria
  Bosnia

  FULL SCHEDULE AND RESULTS »
  

  Spot the Ball, Round 2

  Welcome back — it's time for Round 2 of Spot the Ball, our World Cup quiz of skill, observation and a little bit of luck. We've removed the ball from photographs from the past few days. See if you can work out where it is.