The French scored just one goal in their embarrassing exit from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Through two games in Brazil, they've notched eight. And now they stand alone atop Group E, with advancement to the knockout stage nearly certain.
Olivier Giroud, inserted into the starting lineup by manager Didier Deschamps after coming off the bench in the opener, opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Blaise Matuidi added a second, just 66 seconds later.
Then things got worse for Switzerland.
Goals in the 40th, 67th and 73rd minutes gave France a commanding 5-0 lead. It could have been worse, too, as Karim Benzema missed a penalty.
Switzerland salvaged something (goal differential, if not pride) with late goals in the 81st and 87th minutes. By that point, the French defense had packed it in, knowing the three points were secure.
France now stands atop Group E, needing only a draw in its final match versus Ecuador to ensure advancement to the knockout phase.
Curiously, it seems there's something special about the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador. Now three of the tournament's highest-scoring (and most lopsided) games were played there, including the Netherlands' 5-1 destruction of Spain and Germany's 4-0 embarrassment of Portugal.
