Impressive France demolish Switzerland 5-2

The victory left France undisputed top of Group E and established them as one of the favourites to do well in the World Cup.

Karim Benzema was one of the French heroes, scoring once to take his tally of goals for the tournament to three and deservedly winning the man-of-the match award.

Oliver Giroud headed in the first for France on 17 minutes and Blaise Matuidi scored a second almost immediately afterwards before Mathieu Valbuena lengthened the French lead five minutes before half-time.

After the break Real Madrid striker Benzema made it 4-0 and midfielder Moussa Sissoko hit a fifth before Switzerland grabbed late consolation goals through Blerim Dzemeili and Granit Xhaka.

The Swiss suffered a blow early one when defensive lynchpin Steve von Bergen was forced to leave the pitch with a facial injury after being caught by the boot of Giroud when going for a high ball.

France went into the game as slight favourites and lived up to their reputation when Giroud climbed above the Swiss defence to head home a corner.

A minute later France went two up when West Ham defender Valon Behrami lost possession in midfield to Benzema. The striker played a through ball to Blaise Matuidi, who bore down on goal and curled a low shot into the far corner.

France kept up the pressure, but it was Switzerland who got the ball into the net when Granit Xhaka volleyed home, only to have the goal disallowed for offside.

Two minutes later Xherdan Shaqiri raced through the French defence but his shot was off-target with only keeper Hugo Lloris to beat.

Switzerland's woes continued when midfielder Mathieu Valbuena put France 3-0 ahead five minutes before the break. The goal originated from a Swiss corner which was cleared by Rafael Varan. The defender played the ball to Giroud, who outpaced the Swiss defence and slid the ball across goal for Valbuena to slot home.

France had an earlier attempt to go further ahead thwarted when Benzema missed a penalty. After being tripped up in the area Benzema took the kick himself but the ball was punched clear by Benaglio to Yohan Cabye, who thumped it against the crossbar.

France appeared to move down a gear in the second half, allowing Shaqiri to test Lloris with a couple of long-distance shots. But the French attack was always dangerous, with Benzema ready to pounce on defensive errors.

Mehmedi should have pulled one back for Switzerland when Mathieu Debuchy failed to clear a cross, but the striker ballooned the ball over the bar as Lloris raced off his line.

France scored a fourth on 67 minutes when substitute Paul Pogba passed to Benzema, who smashed the ball to pull level with Germany's Thomas Mueller and Dutch pair Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie as the tournament's top scorers.

The fifth followed six minutes later when Benzema put through Moussa Sissoko, who scored his first international goal for France.

Switzerland grabbed two consolation goals in the last 10 minutes when Blerim Dzemailia converted a free kick by firing through the French defence wall and Xhaka volleyed home from inside the area.