World Cup 2014 Brazil » Group E » Live commentary: Switzerland - France 2:5

Endgame Summary:
Switzerland versus France - a game to remember! Seven goals were witnessed this evening, five in favor of France and two on the Swiss side of the Alps. With extremely exact and fast moves and by means of such marvellous players like Benzema, Giroud, and Valbuena the frenchmen were able to crack the imprecise Swiss clockwork again and again. The injury of Von Bergen was a severe set back for Hitzfeld's eleven, Senderos could not replace him adequately. On the other side, every time Switzerland managed to escape France´s warm embrace they had to accept another goal out of those numerous and excellent counter attacs. Still, France could have won with an even higher goal difference: Benzema missed a penalty and the two Swiss goals were quite avoidable. Nevertheless and at the lates now, France enters the elite circle of high potential aspirants for the title.

Only three more to go, Switzerland! The last minutes are starting, it is to doubt that three minutes extra time would suffice to score another three goals.

Goooal for Switzerland, 2:5 by Granit Xhaka
There's even a second one for Switzerland! Inler submits a delightful pass to Xhaka. With the help of Debuchy who can't hit the ball in order to clear it Xhaka smashes a remarkable volley into the goal. That was an excellent and clinical finish.

Goooal for Switzerland, 1:5 by Blerim Dzemaili
The more than deserved first goal for Switzerland is realised by Blerim Dzemaili. The midfielder from Napoli strikes the free kick from almost 30 meters right through the wall and scores. The whole stadium applauds.

Benaglio saves him team from receiving the next counter goals. Putting all his skills into the battle, he is able to save three times in a row.

Josip Drmić substitutes the unlucky Haris Seferović who remained far behind his possibilities and, likewise, expectations.

Goooal for France, 0:4 by Karim Benzema
Finally Benzema has got his goal! Pogba side foots a long pass through to Benzema. Not really disturbed in his moves, the French top star scores from few meters. The spectators feel sorry for Swiss guys who are just not getting into this match. Every short light at the end of the blue darkness is extinguished by a goal of Les Bleus.

Big chance for Mehmedi. Just meters away from the goal he is not able to overcome Lloris who prevents the goal with all his skills.

Blerim Dzemaili shoots from a central position but fails in aiming it more accurately. At least this was a sign of life. Hitzfeld acknowledges this effort by applauding politely.

First attempt by Gökhan Inler. He slides a cross towards the six yard box and finds noone but Lloris. No problems for the French goal keeper who still keeps a clean sheet.

Goooal for France, 0:3 by Matthieu Valbuena
That's the decision! After a Swiss counter attack Evra passes the ball directly through to Giroud. From the halfway line, Arsenals winger runs towards the box where he sees Valbuena coming across the way. Giroud centres right to his mate who scores the third goal for the Grande Nation on this evening. Tremendous game play by the French!

Karim Benzema (France) missed a penalty
Incredible situation! Benzema is about to score his third goal after two ones in the first match from the penalty spot. But Benaglio saves the penalty! Even worse, the rebound is not buried either although Benaglio was still on the ground. Cabayes only hits the cross bar. This could be so decisive but as of now, the Swiss are still in the game.

Is this the 1:2 for Switzerland? No, it isn't! After a free kick the french central backs cannot clear from danger and put the ball directly on the feet of Shaqiri. His shot is bad enough to end up at Xhaka waiting alone in front of Lloris. He smashing it in but the referee whistles offside. No goal!

The Swiss guys have lost their track completely. Senderos, Djourou and Lichtsteiner need to stabilise the defense now. There is nothing to see from the offense, Inler, Seferović and Mehmedi are invisible.

Goooal for France, 0:1 by Olivier Giroud
And that's the 1:0! And it's the more than active Arsenal striker Giroud who powers a header into Benaglio's goal. A corner was the preparation work done by Valbuena.

Again the frenchmen. Valbuena comes over the right side centring towards the left alone Benzema. Djourou clears but does not transfer the ball out of the dangerous zone. But Giroud smashes the distance shot high and wide from long range.

Von Bergen is unable to continue. Senderos, who has witnessed better days in his career enters.

First good chance of the game. Benzema who scored twice against Honduras tries his luck from 25 Meters. His shot from the center right just passes by the right post. The crowd starts to sing the Real Madrid star's name.

The Swiss guys smell the fire and are close to their first goal now. But Shaqiri needs to aim more precise in order to score. From tight angle from the left he is not able to put it in.

Also on the french side their are news: The weak performances of the youngsters Griezmann and Pogba against Honduras convinced Deschamps to give a bet on more experienced players. Therefore, Newcastle's Sissoko and Arsenal's Giroud are the aces sent to make the difference in favor of the Grande Nation.

Switzerlands main changes are represented by the entrance of Admir Mehmedi and Haris Seferović, both of which scored in the game against Ecuador whilst not being nominated for the first eleven. Today they deserve their chance to show their skills from the first minute onwards.

The German Headcoach of the Swiss Team Ottmar Hitzfeld underlines the importance of the encounter. “We're in a special position with France being our neighbors and it's a derby, so to speak, but if we are to have a chance, we really have to go beyond our limits. They are a team who have put in great performances and were impressive in their play-off win against Ukraine.”

The upcoming clash brings the two winners of match day one in Group E down to the pitch. France bet Honduras without further complications by 3:0. Champions League star Karim Benzema scored twice, the third goal was a contribution by Noel Valladares, the goalkeeper of Los Catrachos, who put the ball into his own goal. This action also involved a novelty: For the first time in football history the Goal Control Technology was used to detect the goal.