2014 FIFA World Cup: Ecuador vs France - As it happened

====================================================================================

Zee Media Bureau/Dattaraj Thaly OUR FULL COVERAGE ON WORLD CUP 2014» Ecuador`s Team Profile» Ecuador`s squad» France`s Team Profile» France`s squad» Full list of Group Standings» Fixtures & Results» ==================================================================================== FULL TIME: Ecuador 0-0 France 90+2' - Despite being down to 10 men, Ecuador have given a fine account of themselves. Fighting till the last minute. A corner for them and the hero of the match, Dominguez has also come forward. 4 MINUTES OF TIME ADDED ON! 90' - Sagna floats a ball for his Arsenal teammate who directs his open header straight into the arms of the keeper. What a miss from Giroud. 88' - Pogba skips past his man and releases his shot quickly. The ball goes just wide of the upright after one bounce. No goal still. 86' - Remy fires in a shot that is saved by Dominguez again. What a night he has had. Superb exhibition of shot blocking. 84' - Benzema releases Giroud, who cuts back with his left foot for Benzema. His shot is saved. The Madrid man just can't get his shot past the keeper today. 82' - Guagua cuts in from the right, his momentum takes him past the left-back and he hits the target with his shot. Lloris parried away the ball. 81' - Arroyo moves ahead with the ball, dink to the left and fires a left footed shot. Well wide. Koscielny stuck to him and made the angle tight. 80' - Benzema again attempts a give and go with Giroud. The defense foils his effort yet again. 78' - Benzema charges at Paredes and releases his shoot that goes one bounced into the hands of Dominguez. 76' - Paredes thumps the ball forward. Valencia is runs towards the ball but he is off-side. 74' - POGBA MISSES A SITTER. Sissoko floated a lovey cross to the far post where Pogba was unmarked. He had time and space but he failed to direct his header. Inches wide off. 72' - Shaquiri puts the Swiss 3-0 up. Hat-trick for him. 70' - At the 70 minute mark, France and Switzerland are going through to the Round of 16. 67' - France are going for the win as they bring on an attacker in the form of Giroud. He replaces Matuidi. 65'- Benzema gives it to Sissoko and gets it back. He fires a shot on the run. The ball is deflected by one of the defenders for a corner. 63' - Ibarra comes on for Ecuador for Montero. 63' - Matuidi fires one from outside the box. Straight to the keeper. He collects easily. Good effort from the workhorse midfielder. 62' - Pogba puts in a looping ball, which is collected by the keeper before Benzema can attack it with his head. 60' - Change for France. Varane comes on for Sakho was was clearly struggling with a niggle he picked up. 58' - Benzema shoots and gets the rebound straight back. He steadies himself and sets up Pogba who is open on the edge of the box. Pogba's shot is blocked by the defender. 56' - Montero on a marauding run down the left, he bounces off Sagna and tried to do too much instead of releasing a cross. He smashed the ball into the side netting. 54' - France were exposed at the back. They found themselves 2 on 3 at the back. Noboa was played in on the right. His shoot did not even trouble Lloris. What a wasted opportunity. 52' - The floodgates could open now as France will exploit the one man advantage. 49' - Valencia was motoring ahead with the ball. Digne cam in with a sliding tackle, Valencia lost balance and went studs up into the challenge. It was completely unintentional. Ref gives a straight red. RED CARD! ANTONIO VALENCIA 47' - Sagna bombed forward on the right and put in a delicious cross. Griezman got on the end of it with the outside of his foot and forced an excellent save from the keeper. 46' - Here we go for the last 45 minutes. HALF TIME: Ecuador 0-0 France 45' - TWO MINUTES ADDED ON! 43' - First real involvement from Benzema. He moves ahead of the with the ball with a man close to him. The Frenchman halts in his tracks and switches the ball to his right foot. He curls one towards the far post but the keeper collects it easily. 40' - We have hit the 40 minute mark and its still goalless at the Maracana. Swiss meanwhile, are now 2-0 up. 37' - Griezman's delivery is header towards goal by Pogba. His effort is weak but Dominguez takes no risks and palms it over the cross bar for a corner. 36' - Paredes fouls Griezman without even the view of the ball. Free-kick to France. Griezman to take it. 31' - Enner Valencia darted in from the left side of the penalty are. He toe-poked his delivery straight into the hands of Lloris. 28' - Benzema skips past Paredes with ease on the left and puts in a cross with his left foot, which causes a scramble in the middle with kicks and headers flying in. Noboa gets a knock as he goes for the same header as Matuidi in the process. He goes down and the medical staff are out to treat him. 26' - Sagna puts in a delicious ball. The keeper comes out but does not collect. His intervention is enough to put Benzema away who has risen to head the ball. 24' - Sagna sets Sissoko up, who makes a run to the byline and cuts back the ball. His cut-back goes behind Griezmann who was rushing in the box. 22' - The South American's are now trying to force the issue as they need to match what Switzerland achieve in their match. France looking happy to absorb the pressure. 20' - Ecuador have been compact at the back. Benzema has been very quiet. 18' - Sagna released Griezmann in behind the defense. But the midfielder could not get past the first defender. The striker is now back on the pitch but he isn't very comfortable. Enner Valencia has hobbled off the pitch. The medical staff is looking after him. This could be bad news. 16' - Possession: Ecuador(39%) - (61%) France. 14' - Matuidi's cross from the left bounced amid several players and fell for Sissoko who unleashed a left footed volley straight to the keeper. 12' - Pogba tries to feed Sissoko who was inside the penalty box. But the ref's assistant flags off-side. Pogba getting involved more and more as game goes on. 10' - Griezmann fires in a left footer. Just wide. The 23-year-old was involved in a give and go with Benzema before taking that shot. 8' - Switzerland have scored, which means as things stand, Ecuador are heading out. 6' - Montero gets into the penalty box. He twists and turns but the defender stays with him earn a goal-kick. 3' - If you have joined us late, here are the team line-ups for this match. France: Lloris, Sakho, Benzema, Griezmann, Matuidi, Sagna, Digne Sissoko, Pogba, Koscielny, Schneiderlin Ecuador: Dominguez, Guagua, Erazo, Paredes, Noboa, Montero, W. Ayovi, E. Valencia, Minda, Arroyo, A. Valencia 1' - Ecuador to get us going here in Rio. Here we go.. National anthems have been belted out by the players and fans. Time for action at the iconic Maracana. Welcome to our live coverage of the Group E game between Ecuador and France at the Estadio Maracana in Rio De Janeiro. France have completely dominated this group and will in all probability top Group E. This mean, Les Blues will give their squad players run to avoid injuries and bookings. Midfield dynamo Yohan Cabaye is suspended for this match, while Mamadou Sakho is expected to be rested as he is nursing a minor injury. The only way for Ecuador to advance is by beating France. Enner Valencia is on fire for them and willpose a big danger to the French defense. Before the start of the World Cup, France were not counted among the favorites to win the cup. But with big teams bowing out and France gaining momentum, they are a good bet for a semi-final spot. As most South Americans, Ecuador will also play flamboyant football, which is why this game should be a real entertainer.