France took their goal tally in two World Cup games to eight as an explosive frontline toyed with Switzerland and delivered a rampant 5-2 win that saw them progressing to the knockout round.
In an imposing display of swift, attacking soccer in a game packed with opportunities, France sent out a stark warning of their potential.
Karim Benzema also had a penalty saved as he shared goals with four other players: Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena and Moussa Sissoko.
Photo: AFP
Switzerland grabbed two consolation efforts in the last nine minutes, but they took little gloss off the French victory.
France sit firmly atop the Group E standings.
“We are going to continue, we really want to shake everything round and we are going to ask the French to support us. There is an enormous satisfaction with the result. We have been very efficient, there is no doubt about that,” coach Didier Deschamps said.
The feast also cemented Salvador’s newfound status as the “goal city” of the World Cup, taking the tally at the Arena Fonte Nova to 17 in three games.
Given an average of five per game from the first two encounters, it was no surprise the 51,003-strong crowd were jeering any backward movement in the opening 15 minutes, but they did not have long to wait before the floodgates opened.
Giroud rose with conviction to head home Valbuena’s 17th-minute corner to quickly repay Deschamps’ decision to put him back in the starting lineup and it also gave France their 100th World Cup goal.
Sloppy Switzerland play swiftly delivered a second 66 seconds later. They had three touches from the kickoff before Valon Behrami played a stray pass to Benzema, who accepted the gift with glee before feeding Matuidi to score.
A trip on Benzema by Johan Djourou just past the half-hour mark brought a penalty, but Benzema’s spot-kick was saved.
However, the third came within 10 minutes as Giroud ran deep from his own half on a swift counterattack to set up Valbuena for the third and France were comfortably in command at halftime.
Substitute Paul Pogba’s exquisite 67th-minute pass with the outside of his boot allowed Benzema to turn and score the fourth through the goalkeeper’s legs as he netted a ninth goal in France’s past eight matches.
The striker turned provider for Sissoko, who weighted his shot perfectly past the sprawling Diego Benaglio for the fifth goal five minutes later.
Benzema might be excused blame for allowing Blerim Dzemaili’s free-kick to slip under his foot as he jumped out of the way while positioned in the wall as Switzerland got their first in the 81st minute.
Granit Xhaka’s goal six minutes after was arguably the best of the seven as he swiveled to score from close range.
Benzema thought he had added a sixth in stoppage-time, but the referee blew the final whistle moments before his volley hit the net in a reminder of the controversy in 1978 when Welsh referee Clive Thomas denied Zico a winner for Brazil against Sweden in similar circumstances.
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