Ten-man Ecuador held France to a 0-0 draw at the Maracana on Wednesday but Didier Deschamps' side still topped Group E to progress to a last-16 tie against Nigeria.
Through luck, determination, bad finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Alexander Dominguez, Ecuador resisted even after captain Antonio Valencia was ordered off early in the second half for a studs-up challenge on Lucas Digne.
The result was disappointing for France coach Didier Deschamps but was enough to take first place with seven points and the easier of the possible second-round ties next Monday.
"We came here to qualify and did it finishing top of our group," said Deschamps. "We didn't have a huge number of chances and their 'keeper made some good saves but it doesn't spoil our joy at being in the last 16."
Switzerland's 3-0 win over Honduras in the group's other game gave them second place and a tough match against Argentina on Tuesday as Ecuador become the first South American side to be knocked out of this World Cup.
And Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda was left to lament the sending-off of his captain as his team came up just short.
"There is nothing to be done about it now but we lost an important player in our structure," said the Colombian. "Various refereeing decisions went against us and it was difficult to hold on for a draw but the players showed great character."
Deschamps made six changes for this game and will certainly bring back several of the missing players to take on Nigeria.
Karim Benzema, scorer of three goals in wins over Honduras and Switzerland, kept his place in the side, but France missed the creativity of Mathieu Valbuena and Yohan Cabaye, the latter absent due to suspension and replaced by Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin.
Les Bleus controlled much of the first half, but only sporadically troubled Dominguez in the Ecuador goal.
The Ecuadorean 'keeper held a crisply-struck volley from Moussa Sissoko with 15 minutes played and did well to palm the ball over the bar when Paul Pogba got his head to an Antoine Griezmann free-kick.
Ecuador began to threaten as the half wore on, almost breaking through when Enner Valencia rose above Digne to connect with Michael Arroyo's left-wing cross only for Hugo Lloris to intervene.
- Jeers from Maracana crowd -
Many of the Maracana crowd greeted the half-time whistle with jeers, but the match came to life within moments of the restart.
A flowing French move saw Benzema and Paul Pogba combine to set up Bacary Sagna on the right, and his low cross to the near post was met by Griezmann. However, a combination of Dominguez and the woodwork denied the Real Sociedad man the opening goal.
Rueda's side were then dealt a major blow when Valencia was sent off with the second period just four minutes old.
The Ecuador captain lost control of the ball on the right flank and scraped his studs along Digne's left leg, leaving his opponent in apparent agony on the turf.
Valencia received a straight red card from the Ivorian referee, but Digne was able to carry on as France sought to make the most of their extra man.
Benzema set up Blaise Matuidi for a shot that was saved at the second attempt by Dominguez before the unmarked Pogba could only head wide from a Sissoko cross.
Benzema and Pogba both came close to getting the breakthrough late on, while substitute Alex Ibarra tested Lloris at the other end after an excellent run forward down the right flank.
In Manaus, Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri erased his side's lingering World Cup pain with all the goals in the 3-0 win over Honduras.
In just the sixth minute Bayern Munich midfielder found the target with an unstoppable left-footed strike from just outside the area that flew past a helpless Noel Valladares and into the top corner.
Just after the half-hour the Swiss doubled their lead following a swift counter-attack. Victor Bernardez made a mistake in midfield and Josip Drmic raced forward before playing in Shaqiri, who kept his composure with just the goalkeeper to beat, slotting the ball to his left.
Switzerland killed the game 20 minutes from time. Drmic, enjoying his role on the left, beat Bernardez and again found Shaqiri, who was unerring in his finish.
AFP
Thu Jun 26 2014
(AP Photo/Francois Xavier Marit, pool)
AWANI Borneo [24/04/2024] – Nahas helikopter | Bernilai RM1.76 juta | Rakyat diutamakan
AWANI Borneo Rabu, 24 April 2025 bersama Assim Iskandar.
- Nahas helikopter : Jasad mendiang Joanna dikebumikan di Serian esok.
- Polis tumpaskan sindiket seludup dadah ke Sarawak bermilai RM1.76 juta.
- DUN Sabah : Pembangkang tidak dipinggir, peruntukan tetap diberikan - Hajiji
- Nahas helikopter : Jasad mendiang Joanna dikebumikan di Serian esok.
- Polis tumpaskan sindiket seludup dadah ke Sarawak bermilai RM1.76 juta.
- DUN Sabah : Pembangkang tidak dipinggir, peruntukan tetap diberikan - Hajiji
Tony Fernandes lanjut kontrak 5 tahun sebagai CEO Capital A
CEO Capital A Bhd Tony Fernandes telah menandatangani kontrak perkhidmatan baharu untuk tempoh lima tahun akan datang.
Skuad B-23 kurang cergas - O' Donell
Aspek kecergasan perlawanan menjadi penyebab utama pemain skuad Bawah 23 Tahun negara gagal memberikan saingan terbaik pada kempen Piala Asia B-23.
Cadangan tubuh Jabatan Perikanan Sarawak dibentang November
Kertas cadangan penubuhan Jabatan Perikanan Sarawak dijangka dibentangkan dalam persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sarawak selewat-lewatnya November ini.
Teliti isu limpahan pengusaha pelancongan asing - pembangkang
Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal menggesa Kementerian Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah untuk menangani isu limpahan pengusaha pelancong Korea atau China yang dilihat semakin mendominasi industri pelancongan tempatan.
Tiada rancangan tubuh tribunal tanah
Kerajaan negeri tidak mempunyai rancangan untuk menubuhkan tribunal tanah memandangkan peruntukan yang ditetapkan dalam Ordinan Tanah Sabah memadai untuk mengendalikan isu pertikaian tanah di negeri ini.
Pembangkang tidak dipinggir, peruntukan tetap diberikan
Wakil rakyat pembangkang tidak dipinggir, peruntukan tetap diberi
Kerajaan negeri akan memperhalusi keperluan supaya peruntukan projek pembangunan dari Persekutuan di setiap daerah dimaklumkan kepada semua wakil rakyat termasuk pihak pembangkang.
Kerajaan negeri akan memperhalusi keperluan supaya peruntukan projek pembangunan dari Persekutuan di setiap daerah dimaklumkan kepada semua wakil rakyat termasuk pihak pembangkang.
Enam rumah separuh kekal di Kampung Unta musnah
Sekurang-kurangnya enam buah rumah jenis separuh kekal di Kampung Unta, Lahad Datu musnah dalam kebakaran pada awal pagi Rabu.
Suami didakwa lakukan amang seksual terhadap remaja 17 tahun, isteri bersubahat
Pasangan suami isteri itu masing-masing diikat jamin sebanyak RM10,000 serta diperintahkan agar mereka tidak menghampiri mana-mana saksi.
Polis tumpas sindiket seludup 100kg ganja setiap minggu dari negara jiran
Sindiket itu menjual semula ganja berkenaan dalam pelbagai bentuk dan berat kepada pembeli di seluruh negara.
Inilah masanya - Klose
Penyerang sensasi Jerman, Miroslav Klose percaya bahawa skuadnya memiliki kualiti untuk menebus kekalahan kepada Brazil pada final Piala Dunia 2002.
10 gol terbaik Piala Dunia 2014
Sebanyak 167 gol setakat ini telah dijaringkan pada pusingan akhir Piala Dunia dan terdapat 10 gol terbaik sepanjang kejohanan ini.
Kalah dengan Jerman, peminat carut Presiden Brazil
Peminat bolasepak Brazil meneriakkan kata-kata kesat kepada Presiden Dilma Rousseff selepas pasukan Jerman mendahului 5-0 sebelum tamat babak pertama perlawanan separuh akhir Piala Dunia 2014.
Klose pecah rekod gol Piala Dunia
Penyerang Jerman Miroslav Klose berjaya mencapai matlamatnya untuk muncul sebagai penjaring terbanyak dalam sejarah Piala Dunia FIFA.
Scolari minta maaf kepada rakyat Brazil
Jurulatih Brazil, Luiz Felipe Scolari meminta maaf kepada seluruh rakyat negaranya selepas pasukan tuan rumah itu dimalukan oleh Jerman.
Tiada Neymar, tiada hal - Brazil
Brazil mahu membuktikan kecederaan Neymar bukan kekangan kepada pasukan Amerika Selatan itu beraksi di perlawanan akhir nanti.
Sikap David Luiz pujuk James Rodriguez dipuji
Agak tersentuh melihat gambar David Luiz memeluk bintang muda Colombia, James Rodriguez ketika menenangkan pemain itu selepas Brazil menewaskan Colombia 2-1 di peringkat suku akhir.
Brazil mahu Zuniga dihukum
Persatuan Bola Sepak Brazil (CBF) menyeru pihak FIFA untuk memberi hukuman setimpal kepada bek-kanan Colombia Juan Camilo Zuniga.
Pengalaman tidur di rumah Ronaldinho dengan sewa RM50 ribu semalam
Apabila tidak terpilih menyertai skuad Brazil bimbingan Luiz Felipe Scolari untuk Piala Dunia 2014, Ronaldinho tampil dengan cara tersendiri untuk menjana kewangannya di musim kejohanan besar itu.
Piala Dunia: Perlawanan Brazil-Chile pecahkan rekod Twitter
Sejumlah 16.3 juta tweet dicatatkan ketika perlawanan Piala Dunia Brazil menentang Chile awal pagi tadi sekaligus memecah rekod sebagai jumlah tweet paling tinggi.