Shaqiri leads Swiss roll, France advance to knockout phase
FRANCE took top spot in World Cup group E while 10-man Ecuador were eliminated after a sprightly 0-0 draw at the Maracana stadium yesterday.
Switzerland, who beat Honduras 3-0, took second spot and will play Argentina in the last 16 while the French will face Nigeria.
Ecuador, who had to play most of the second half with 10 men after Antonio Valencia’s dismissal in the 50th minute, became the only one of the six South American sides not to progress.
France topped the group with seven points while Switzerland finished on six, Ecuador ended with four and Honduras none.
With little pressure on France, who were all but assured of a place in the second round, coach Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting lineup.
Ecuador knew they needed a victory to have any hope of progressing but they struggled to create many opportunities.
A relaxed-looking France team had the better of the early exchanges, but it was not until
‘We’re doing OK.’
Lionel Messi on Argentina the 38th minute that they truly threatened when Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez tipped over a powerful header from Paul Pogba.
Ecuador’s only first-half opportunity came when Michael Arroyo burst down the left flank and Enner Valencia met his cross with a downward header which was blocked by the feet of France keeper Hugo Lloris.
France almost broke the deadlock shortly after the interval when Bacary Sagna crossed from the right and Antoine Griezmann’s volley bounced off Dominguez on to the post.
With Switzerland beating Honduras, Ecuador knew a draw was not enough and substitute Alex Ibarra forced a good save out of Lloris in the 82nd while Karim Benzema went close for France.
Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri erased his side’s lingering World Cup pain, scoring a hat-trick to secure a daunting last-16 tie against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Four years ago the Central Americans denied Switzerland a place in the knockout rounds by holding out for a 0-0 draw, but two first-half goals from the impressive Bayern Munich midfielder gave Honduras a mountain to climb.
Coach Luis Suarez’s team fought hard to get back into the game even though they had no chance of progressing, but a third goal from the midfielder killed their hopes.
Iran had a chance to progress to the knockout stage, but after an initial burst of aggressive energy reverted back to type and saw the opportunity pass them by in a 3-1 defeat by Bosnia.
The Asian country, with just one previous World Cup finals victory to their name, needed to beat Bosnia and hope Nigeria lost at the same time to Argentina to take the runners-up berth in Group F and reach the second phase.
A tantalising opportunity was expected to produce an attacking approach from an Iranian side who had spent their two previous matches impressing with their tactical discipline and defensive ability.
But after beginning the game with some zeal, they were quickly back to their defensive lines as already-eliminated Bosnia began to show their superiority.
Lionel Messi has scored in all of Argentina’s group games and while the South Americans clearly depend on the livewire forward, coach Alejandro Sabella is wary of pushing him too hard ahead of the knockout round.
The forward scored twice yesterday to help Argentina secure a 3-2 win over African champions Nigeria and clinch first place in group F for the South Americans.
But Sabella replaced him in the 63rd minute, later saying: ‘‘We needed Messi to rest.’’
The 27-year-old, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, also got the winner in the 2-1 defeat of Bosnia and the 1-0 victory over Iran as Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favourites, eased towards the last 16.
‘‘We’re doing OK,’’ Messi said when asked if he felt tired.
‘‘Now we have five or six rest days and I’m doing fine.’’