Both teams ran out with all three points in their respective opening matches and the winner here will take a significant step towards qualification for the Round of 16. While the Swiss can still afford to drop points here- given the insurance of playing against Honduras in their final group game- they will be keen to get a win so as to avoid Argentina, likely winners of Group F. Switzerland opened their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ecuador, with 22-year old substitute Haris Seferovic scoring the winning goal in the minute. The task now is to build on that, something they failed to do four years ago in South Africa. After shocking Spain 1-0 in their opening match, the Swiss lost by the same score line to Chile before a dour 0-0 draw in their last group match against Honduras sent them packing.
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The bulk of the present crop have been playing together since becoming World Champions at U-17 level in 2009. This young set of players will be led by experienced old hands like Napoli duo Gokhan Inler and Valon Behrami as well as Juventus fullback Stephan Lichtsteiner. Like Switzerland, Didier Deschamps and his charges have a target of reaching the Round of 16, and avoiding Argentina. France go into the match on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Honduras but Les Blues played against 10 men for more than half of the match. France are one of the most erratic National Teams in recent memory. Since 1998, they have either reached the final or failed to win a World Cup game. Four years ago, the French team exited the competition unceremoniously after rebelling against erstwhile coach Raymond Domenech and returned home in disgrace. This time around, the squad under Deschamps want to show their worth on the football pitch.
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TEAM NEWS
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfield has a couple of decisions to make ahead of the clash as both Admir Mehmedi and Haris Seferovic came off the bench to score against Ecuador. It remains to be seen whether both will continue with their impact sub role or not. For France, Didier Deschamps is unlikely to tinker significantly with his starting XI. The same backline is expected with Patrice Evra and Mathieu Debuchy either side of Mamadou Sakho and Raphael Varane. In attack however, Deschamps will have to decide whether to continue with Antoine Griezmann on the left or shift two-goal hero Karim Benzema there to accommodate Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud up front.
Probable Lineups
Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Benaglio; Rodriguez, Von Bergen, Djourou, Lichtsteiner; Inler, Behrami;
Stocker, Xhaka, Shaqiri; Seferovic
France (4-3-3): Lloris; Evra, Sakho, Varane, Debuchy; Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba; Griezmann,
Benzema, Valbuena
PREDICTION
Switzerland have shown that they are capable of rising to the big occasion over the years and they will provide the French with a sterner test than Honduras did. I expect a close match between two technical sides packed full with exciting players. If Karim Benzema is at his incisive best like he was in the last match, France just might win this with the narrowest of margins.
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