Euro 2016: Switzerland vs France

#SUI 0-0 #FRA game by numbers:

4 ripped shirts
1 popped ball
0 entertainment pic.twitter.com/mjWFejC7ys
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 19, 2016

France reach knockout stages of the competition as the group leaders, and a special congratulations to the Swiss for qualifying for thier first taste of knockout stages.

Two Additional minutes, this is heading towards an entertaining nil-nil draw.

87': Brilliant skill by Gignac, juggles the ball twice, handball by Schar. Free kick in proper Payet territory here, unfortunately it's been blocked by his own player at the wall.

Don't count him out just yet.

#SUI players' jersey against #FRA

Their ripped shirt count now up to three.#SUIFRA #FRASUI pic.twitter.com/GHlNeMip3z
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 19, 2016

79': Payet with another volley, but cuts across it, it drifts off the far post.

75': WHAT A MOVE! Sissoko takes on two men, goes past them, using his pace and power, brilliant cross onto the feet of onrushing Payet, who meets it on the volley, unfortunately it hits the crossbar.

67': Sissoko has been absolutely brilliant game, he has been positive, well that's it then he's off Geordies.

63': Shaqiri with a cheeky effort to beat the goalkeeper from the corner, Lloris had it covered though.

59': Rami with an 'old-fashioned clearance' skies it straight to Sommer.

56': France's turn attack now, Pogba holds the ball up, lovely one-two between Griezmann and Gignac, Griezmann with the shot with his right foot, straight at Sommer who thwarts it away for a corner.

55': Brilliant build-up play by the Swiss, the ball is pulled by to the edge of the box for Dzemalli to take a shot, but cleared in time.

54': That was definitely the first time I witnessed a football punctured by studs.

52' Sissoko picks up the ball in his own half and drives at the Swiss defence, laying the ball off to Griezmann who shoots straight at Sommer

49' There is no lack of industry on the part of either team, just the final pass

47' With Albania up by a goal in the other game, if the result stays the same, the Swiss will qualify

45' The game resumes for the second half

#SUI players' jersey against #FRA

Their ripped shirt count now up to three.#SUIFRA #FRASUI pic.twitter.com/GHlNeMip3z
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 19, 2016

HT: The game has been breathless till now, but most of the brilliance has been in the middle of the pitch and not at the attacking third. Paul Pogba has been sublime, no wonder he is touted to be the best.

40': There has been some brilliant play to the edge of each box, but the finishing touch has been lacking.

37': Well, that's new, Pogba with a hand-stand, and I think that was the fifth Swiss shirt torn. Incredible.

29': A brilliant ball in by Coman, just over the head of Griezmann. If only a cross defined "A Striker's Dream"

28': Embolo seems to be finally showing his quality, couple of moments of quality.

25': A high boot there by Rami, and the string of attacks breaks down at least for sometime.

2 - @paulpogba is the first #FRA player to hit the woodwork at least twice in the same EURO since 1980. Boom.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 19, 2016

We all sometimes run out of Stats, no problem Joey

23': France are piling on the pressure here, three corners in a row, and all delivered to dangerous areas.

19': Pogba is absolutely running the game here, he seems like he wants to prove a point here, a brilliant cross, Gignac can't make the most of it.

16': France seem to be up for it here, Pogba gets the ball down drives forward and unleashes an absolute piledriver which hits the crossbar and goes behind. That would have been the goal of the tournament so far if that went in.

12': Pogba makes something out of nothing here, lovely volley at the end of it, brilliant save by Sommer.

11': Pogba tries to curl one into the top corner, Sommer almost makes a meal of it, goes behind for a corner.

8': CHANCE! Corner fizzed in by Shaqiri, falls near the feet of Djourou, who had already lost his balance and couldn't sort out his feet in time, cleared.

5': The French haven't managed to get a foothold in the game, the Swiss are pressing high and fast, it will be interesting to see if they can keep this up for the whole game.

2': The French beat the press and reach the edge of the Swiss box, Pogba takes a shot and it goes behind for a corner. Nothing comes of i though, the Swiss try to counter, but are cut off.

1': The Swiss are pressing the French from the front, the centre backs getting no time settle on the ball.

The Pre-Kick-off formalities are done and we are ready to get back to business. France in their white kit and the Swiss in Red.

The big news from the centre is that France are testing their bench strength (and resting their key players), where as, Switzerland coach Vladimir Petković has gone with teenage sensation Embolo to lead the attack.

Who are most likely to qualify to the next round? Read below...

UEFA Euro 2016 Group A - Who among Switzerland, Albania or Romania join France in the Round of 16?

#SUI XI vs. #FRA: Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schär, Djourou, Rodriguez; Behrami, Dzemaili, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Embolo, Mehmedi.
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) June 19, 2016

The Starting XI for Switzerland vs France
4-3-3 Formation : Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schär, Djourou, Rodriguez; Behrami, Dzemaili, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Embolo, Mehmedi.

The Starting XI for France vs Switzerland:

4-3-3 Formation : Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra; Sissoko, Cabaye, Pogba; Coman, Griezmann, Gignac.

#FRA XI vs. #SUI: Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra; Sissoko, Cabaye, Pogba; Coman, Griezmann, Gignac.
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) June 19, 2016

7 - Cabaye, Digne, Gignac, Giroud, Griezmann, Matuidi & Payet have already scored at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Answer.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 19, 2016

37 - #BEL (73) are the only team #FRA have met more often than #SUI (37). Neighbours.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 19, 2016

The lineups are out

France vs Switzerland Preview

The French left it late to make amends in each of their last two games. Payet has announced himself to the world, with a couple of brilliant performances, and thankfully for them, their defence which was the main worry coming into the competition has held relatively firm.

Swiss have a huge chance of qualifying to the next stage with four points already on board. What will worry Vladimir Petković is the form of his strikers, Haris Seferovic has missed a host of chances leading the attack and young Embolo who came on in the last game was underwhelming as a number 9.

Win or draw and it is going to be historic night for Swiss, they have never reached the knockout stage of the Euros. Interestingly, the last time France began a competition with two wins (1984 and 2000) they went on to win the competition.

France vs Switzerland Live Stream and Kick-off

Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Kick-off time: 20th June, 12:30 am IST
Live Stream: Sony Liv (http://www.sonyliv.com/)

France vs Switzerland Team News

Valon Behrami who played as an anchoring midfielder in the last game is expected to miss the game with a knee injury. Shaqiri after a controversial interview before Switzerland's second group game, had a nightmare of a match, and might be replaced by youngster Breel Embolo.

Martial was substituted after the first half in the last game, and Coman was underwhelming as well, which might lead to a recall for Pogba and Griezmann.