SWITZERLAND vs. FRANCE
Date: June 20, 2014
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 15-12-9 France
Last Match: 2006 World Cup (Group Stage). France tied Switzerland 0-0.
Line: France -130
Group E Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Switzerland (6th), France (17th)
Managers: Ottmar Hitzfeld (SUI), Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Captains: Gokhan Inler (SUI), Hugo Lloris (FRA)
World Cup Appearances: 10 (SUI), 14 (FRA)
Best Finish: Switzerland (Quarterfinals, Last in 1950), France (Champions, 1998)
Qualifying Records: Switzerland (7-0-3, GF: 17, GA: 6), France (5-2-3, GF: 18, GA: 8)
Previous Game Results
Switzerland
France
June 15th - France def. Honduras 3-0
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Switzerland: Johan Djourou (Yellow Card)
France: Yohan Cabaye (Yellow Card), Patrice Evra (Yellow Card), Paul Pogba (Yellow Card)
Overview
Potential for both compelling intrigue and incredible boredom in this contest as the western European neighbours meet and battle for the likely top spot in Group E. Similar in style of play, lifetime record, calibre of players, and pretty much everything else, this game could be a fast-paced end-to-end affair or get held up in the midfield for the duration.
France come in to this game flying high after they continued a run of strong play in pre-tournament with a 3-0 destruction of Honduras. That performance was led by Karim Benzema who scored twice and had a hat trick taken away by the scorer who credited his third goal as a Honduran own goal.
Switzerland also enter off a win although they found theirs under vastly different circumstances. Surprisingly trailing Ecuador at halftime, the Swiss picked up second-half goals from a pair of substitutes, including the winner with no time on the clock to pick up the victory.
Neither side have injury issues to worry about and we should see a very similar lineup on both sides to the ones from their openers.
France deploy a 4-3-3 type formation with a pair of wingers and Benzema as the lone striker. Their central midfielders of Cabaye, Pogba and Blaise Matuidi will be critical in this game to try and break down the vaunted Swiss defence as well as control the Swiss midfield.
Switzerland go with a 4-2-3-1 formation and rely almost solely on their attacking midfielders for offensive pressure. Xherdan Shaqiri should again be the big play man for their side as they attack the young French central defence.
Personnel
In the Swiss Third: It was a disappointing effort from Switzerland defensively I felt in their first game. This is a top-quality unit that got exposed by quick runs through their lines. That isn't really the French style of play though, especially with no Franck Ribery. Switzerland will be familiar with the style of offence they're seeing and I expect them to shut it down effectively. Advantage: Switzerland
In the Midfield: I could look at this game for days and not discern any advantage here. Both sides have midfielders that defend well, can drive an attack and do pretty much everything you ask of them. This game will be determined here and on paper, there's nothing separating the two. Advantage: Even
In the French Third: The weak part of this Swiss team. They did get a pair of goals from forwards off the bench but struggled to get anything going from their starters against a poor Ecuador back line. France are young at the central defender position but looked more then capable against Honduras and they won't be afraid of what the Swiss throw at them up front. Advantage: France
Goalkeeping: Like the midfield, very little separating them here. I think Lloris is better positionally in goal but Benaglio the more athletic. Advantage: France by a slight margin.
France come in to this game flying high after they continued a run of strong play in pre-tournament with a 3-0 destruction of Honduras. That performance was led by Karim Benzema who scored twice and had a hat trick taken away by the scorer who credited his third goal as a Honduran own goal.
Switzerland also enter off a win although they found theirs under vastly different circumstances. Surprisingly trailing Ecuador at halftime, the Swiss picked up second-half goals from a pair of substitutes, including the winner with no time on the clock to pick up the victory.
Neither side have injury issues to worry about and we should see a very similar lineup on both sides to the ones from their openers.
France deploy a 4-3-3 type formation with a pair of wingers and Benzema as the lone striker. Their central midfielders of Cabaye, Pogba and Blaise Matuidi will be critical in this game to try and break down the vaunted Swiss defence as well as control the Swiss midfield.
Switzerland go with a 4-2-3-1 formation and rely almost solely on their attacking midfielders for offensive pressure. Xherdan Shaqiri should again be the big play man for their side as they attack the young French central defence.
Personnel
In the Swiss Third: It was a disappointing effort from Switzerland defensively I felt in their first game. This is a top-quality unit that got exposed by quick runs through their lines. That isn't really the French style of play though, especially with no Franck Ribery. Switzerland will be familiar with the style of offence they're seeing and I expect them to shut it down effectively. Advantage: Switzerland
In the Midfield: I could look at this game for days and not discern any advantage here. Both sides have midfielders that defend well, can drive an attack and do pretty much everything you ask of them. This game will be determined here and on paper, there's nothing separating the two. Advantage: Even
In the French Third: The weak part of this Swiss team. They did get a pair of goals from forwards off the bench but struggled to get anything going from their starters against a poor Ecuador back line. France are young at the central defender position but looked more then capable against Honduras and they won't be afraid of what the Swiss throw at them up front. Advantage: France
Goalkeeping: Like the midfield, very little separating them here. I think Lloris is better positionally in goal but Benaglio the more athletic. Advantage: France by a slight margin.
Switzerland will win if:
Absolutely need to get quality play from their striker. It's not known if it will be Josip Drmic or one of the other young Swiss forwards. Drmic was invisible against Ecuador and almost all Swiss offence had to come out of their midfielders or wing backs. France will crowd the front of their box and keep the Swiss midfield at bay unless the Swiss can offer some kind of forward threat to counter. This is the Swiss achilles heel and they need improvement desperately to have success against a team like France.
France will win if:
Use Valbuena and Griezmann on the wings to get behind Lichtsteiner and Rodriguez defensively and get that penetration in to the Swiss back line. Switzerland are too strong defensively to attack head on with Benzema. Switzerland gave up chances to Ecuador when the ball was amongst their back line as they lost their positioning somewhat. Send the ball long for the 2 speedy wingers and let them probe the Swiss penalty area from the corner.
I'd be surprised if this game lives up to the hype around it. Both teams very strong defensively and in the midfield and should stalemate. France the more potent offensively so if there is a winner I'd tip them to come out on top but my guess is the game ends in a draw.
Switzerland 1-1 France
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