France remained unbeaten with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador, which saw the South Americans eliminated with Switzerland progressing, writes Declan Olley (@declanolley).
Les Bleus will now face Nigeria in Brasilia on Monday while Ecuador will exit the tournament at the group stage after Switzerland bettered their result with a 3-0 win over Honduras.
Ecuador captain Antonio Valencia was sent off early in the second-half at the Maracana but France could not take advantage, wasting numerous opportunities – Paul Pogba having the best of them with a 73rd minute header.
France boss Didier Deschamps made six changes to the team that beat Switzerland 5-2 with Morgan Schneiderlin making his full international debut and Pogba taking the place of Yohan Cabaye, who served a one-match suspension for collecting two yellow cards. Meanwhile, Ecuador swapped striker Felipe Caicedo for attacking midfielder Michael Arroyo.
Even with their changes France started fluently and controlled possession against an Ecuador side content to sit back and wait for the counter-attack.
Unsurprisingly it was France who had the first meaningful effort on goal in the 15th minute through Moussa Sissoko. The Newcastle midfielder’s beautifully executed volley though was fired straight at Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
And he was called into action again 13 minutes later, this time tipping over Pogba’s header from an Antoinne Griezmann free-kick.
But they were only half chances for a French team which had been so devastating in the first-halves of their previous two group games. Instead they could have found themselves behind for the first time in this tournament but Enner Valencia’s header was easily kept out by Hugo Lloris.
The Ecuador striker, looking for his fourth goal of the competition, leapt brilliantly above French left-back Lucas Digne but could not generate enough power on the header.
With news that Switzerland were 2-0 up on Honduras, the onus was on Ecuador to attack, but it was France who came closest two minutes after the restart.
Bacary Sagna’s cross was met by Griezmann whose flick produced an excellent reaction save from Dominguez, who managed to tip the winger’s attempt onto the bar.
Ecuador’s task became even harder in the 50th minute when skipper Antonio Valencia was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Digne.
Yet Valencia’s dismissal did not discourage La Tri who broke quickly through Enner Valencia in the 54th minute. The striker unselfishly laid the ball to Cristhian Noboa but the midfielder skewed his shot harmlessly wide.
France stepped up their pressure and in the 62nd minute Karim Benzmea played in Blaise Matuidi but he shot straight at Dominguez.
Pogba fluffed his lines 11 minutes later, failing to direct his back post header from a Sagna cross on target.
The 10-men of Ecuador refused to go quietly as substitute Alex Ibarra drew a save from Lloris. But as they poured forward in search of a winner they left themselves exposed.
Yet an out-of-sorts French attack failed to capitalise with Benzema, Pogba and substitutes Olivier Giroud and Loic Remy all wasting late chances.
Meanwhile, a Xherdan Shaqiri hat-trick helped Switzerland to beat Honduras 3-0 and book a last-16 tie against Argentina.
With Ecuador only drawing with France, the Swiss needed to win and Shaqiri’s three goals – the second hat-trick of the tournament – ensured they got the three points they needed.
The Bayern Munich man’s first, a stunning 25-yard strike, came in the sixth-minute.
He then doubled his side’s advantage 25 minutes later after finishing coolly past Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
Switzerland had to weather some Honduran pressure before Shaqiri grabbed his third of the evening in the 70th minute. Josep Drmic set up the winger who made no mistake.
The result meant Honduras finish bottom of Group E without a point while Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side can look forward to facing Lionel Messi and co. on Tuesday in Sao Paulo.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 France |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 7 |
 Switzerland |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 6 |
 Ecuador |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
 Honduras |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0 |