France beats Swiss 5-2 to take control of Group E

June 21, 2014 02:34 am | Updated November 16, 2021 08:06 pm IST - Salvador, Brazil

France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dives and fails to stop the ball as Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili scores his side's first goal during the group E World Cup soccer match between Switzerland and France at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil.

France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dives and fails to stop the ball as Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili scores his side's first goal during the group E World Cup soccer match between Switzerland and France at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil.

Forwards Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema each scored one goal and created another as rampant France blew Switzerland away 5-2 on Friday to take control of Group E and all but seal a place in the next round.

France has six points and can qualify if Ecuador and Honduras draw later Friday.

Giroud and Blasie Matuidi scored a minute apart and Mathieu Valbuena added another to give France a 3-0 halftime lead.

Benzema made up for a penalty miss in the first half with a poacher’s finish in the 67th, and then turned provider for Moussa Sissoko, who made it 5-0 with a neat side-footed effort in the 73rd.

Switzerland pulled two consolation goals back as Blerim Dzemaili scored with a free kick in the 81st and Granit Xhaka slotted in the second in the 87th.

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