GROUP E – France-Switzerland
France and Switzerland will meet again after 2006 during the group stage. The last time it ended up in a tasteless 0-0.
Les Bleus have produced a much more pleasant football than in 2010 scoring already three times beating 3-0 Honduras. Benzema has shown his ability, scoring twice and will be the pivotal player in France’s offense.
Switzerland will play with no fear against a team they know well. The Swiss won the three points last game at the last seconds of the game beating a talented Ecuador team 2-1. The winner of this game will probably avoid to play Argentina (should the y finish first of their group) and will have an easier path to the Quarterfinals.. the match is set for Salvador, Arena Fonte Nova
France coach Deschamps:
It was a great start for us – winning the opening match is very important. We played against a team that defended extremely well, even though we did hit the bar twice before Karim Benzema put us ahead from the spot. After Honduras went down to ten men, the game opened up for us. I thought Karim played particularly well, as did the team as a whole.
Switzerland coach Hitzfeld ahead of the game:
“It is extremely difficult to find weaknesses in the France team, it’s the first time in 13 years that I’ve struggled to find them,”
It is very well organized, compact defense, who make individual sacrifices which is down to the will of the players. We have to find weaknesses by jumping on every opportunity. If we try and pack all 10 players behind the ball, it won’t work, we have to challenge them.”
