France-Switzerland MOTM
June 21, 2014
It was a five-star showing from the Frenchman nicknamed after the famous three-pointed star on Friday. Karim "Big Benz" Benzema took his World Cup goal tally up to three, setting up a pair of French goals as well, as "les Bleus" spanked Switzerland 5-2 in a statement of Group E intent.
He may have become the first French player ever to miss a penalty in the course of a World Cup game - not including shootouts - but Benzema's goal and two assists scarcely do his performance justice.
Benzema played much of the match in a slightly withdrawn role; working off Olivier Giroud and influencing France's build-up play more. He seemed to revel in this creative role, as opposed to his perennial placement as the out-and-out striker in Real Madrid's attack.
"Karim is confirming that he's in very, very good form. He's in great shape athletically," France coach Didier Descahmps said after the game. "His happiness is a joy to behold, he's one of the best players in the world and having such an efficient player is very important in a competition like this."
The 26-year-old linked intelligently with Giroud and especially his midfielders - creating the goals for Blaise Matuidi and Moussa Sissoko on the night.
What might have been
He even scored a second, in style, in second-half stoppage time - but the goal came seconds after referee Bjorn Kuipers halted the Swiss rout at just 5-2.
"I didn't hear the whistle," Benzema said afterwards. "But the most important thing is that we won. I'm happy with my match, but we all played well."
It's not first time the Golden Boot hopeful has tasted disappointment in front of goal in Brazil.
Benzema was within a hair's breadth of a hat trick against Honduras in France's opening game. His "third" goal would not have crossed the line without the help of goalie Noel Valladares fumbling it into the net, meaning it was classified only as an own goal.
In a World Cup without goal-line technology to confirm Valladeres' fault, and with just a few extra seconds allowed in the Swiss game tonight, Benzema might already have five goals and three assists on his tally for the World Cup. That haul, incidently, was the winning total for Thomas Müller in South Africa four years ago. The German needed six matches back in 2010 to reach those numbers.