itsbeautifuloutside

Switzerland v France

Salvador, 20th June 2014

Match Report

I wrote quite a lot for my first 2 reports, so I’ll try to be a bit briefer for these ones.

I was very impressed by France albeit against a poor Honduras team in the first game, so was looking forward to watching them again but disappointed that the excellent Pogba was not playing. Switzerland were forced into an early defensive change, van Bergen getting a head injury. They then get completely wiped out of the game within 17 minutes. First France take the lead with a simple corner that is headed in by Giroud- another poor piece of marking by the Swiss, just like in the first game against Ecuador. Then straight from kick off, the Swiss give the ball away in shocking fashion, giving Benzema space to move forward and slip in Matuidi who scores with a low shot at the near post. Clarke Carlisle is not impressed by the power of the shot or the goalkeeping, “It’s not fizzed past him at 40, 50 miles per hour”. Goalkeeper Benaglio might have done better with the first too, having got a hand to it.

The camera picks out a few glum Swiss fans in fancy dress, one looking like a Mexican bandit, another set wearing Swiss cheeses on their heads. I didn’t think much of their team in the first game, fortunate that Ecuador’s weaknesses outweighed their own, and now that their opponents were of a higher standard the pattern of the game was much as expected, France easily soaking up the little invention they were faced with and looking dangerous when moving forward.

After half an hour the Swiss nearly fight back, Behrami forcing an excellent save with a long distance shot, then Shaqiri shooting wide from the rebound- he needed to improve on his frustrating showing previously if his team were to get anything from this game yet ended up being completely anonymous. Highly rated before the World Cup, he has done his chances of a move from Bayern to get first team football no favours.

Moments later, the French earn a penalty when Djourou needlessly challenges Benzema when he’s going nowhere. Benzema’s low shot is parried at the chest of Benaglio (or “full stretch” according to Carlisle), then Cabaye wastes an even better chance, volleying the rebound against the bar.

Minutes later the French do get a third, a quick break leaving Giroud in lots of space down the left, his cross neatly finished by Valbuena in an incisive move. “Not for the first time, there really is a mountain between France and Switzerland!” yells Sam Matterface, a clearly rehearsed but nevertheless good line. He’s my star commentator of the tournament, I really like him.

By half time the French are enjoying themselves (although Evra looks a bit off his game) and look what they are- a far superior team to any other in the group. I was watching this on live pause so fast-forwarded through the half time analysis which in some ways is a shame as Cannavaro is on and he’s a rubbish pundit so I’d have had lots to make fun of. He just ignores the questions he gets asked and rambles something incoherent. The 2nd half drifts until Senderos makes a right mess of a simple ball into the box and lurking behind him, Benzema finishes neatly. Then France make it 5-0, a lovely move ending with Benzema finding Sissoko who hits a side foot shot into the corner.

After that the French switch off a bit. They let in 2 late goals, the first an excellent long range free kick by Dzemaili although Benzema in the wall was quite weak and should have blocked it. Then an Inler chip over the defence is volleyed in by Xhaka who was played onside by Debuchy for what is arguably the best goal of the game, but it’s all too late for the Swiss.

Right at the death, Benzema scores a beautiful goal that is disallowed as the final whistle had gone, curling it into the top corner from 20 yards. The keeper might have heard the whistle though and left it. Benzema goes charging round celebrating and is disappointed to find it ruled, but imagine the reaction from Ronaldo if the same happened to him, it would be hilarious. The camera cut away to the France bench immediately before the goal so we didn’t see it at first. Adrian Chiles straight away denies any ITV responsibility, at least this time it wasn’t their fault.

The game was too one-sided to truly be a classic but it was certainly entertaining. France were excellent again, they need a better challenge and I look forward to seeing them in the knockout stages where I think they will cause problems to any opponent. Benzema is my Man of the Match, despite missing the pen and being at fault in the wall, he linked up well and scored and created goals and both he and his team are making my preview look harsh.

Jickster