The finest XI from the group.
The knockout stages of the 2014 World Cup are first approaching as Group E concluded on Wednesday with France and Switzerland progressing to the last-16.
By making it through the two nations double the European quota in the next round, which at the time consisted of just Netherlands and Greece.
There have been some fine performances in the group and here is the best starting XI made up of players from the French and Swiss, as well as Ecuador and Honduras.
GK – Alexander Dominguez, Ecuador
The Ecuadorians became the first and only South American nation at the World Cup not to make the knockout stages, but they came mightily close and their goalkeeper was solid throughout.
RB – Juan Carlos Paredes, Ecuador
Another from the nation now and a full-back who combined his responsibilities of defence and attack perfectly and was always a useful outlet for the side.
CB – Raphael Varane, France
Despite still being only 21-years-old this Real Madrid ace has been preferred by Didier Deschamps ahead of more experienced figures and has shown why with some fine performances.
CB – Laurent Koscielny, France
Just the one appearance for the Arsenal star with Varane ahead of him in the pecking order, but against Ecuador in the country’s final group game showed maybe he should be in the XI more regularly.
LB – Ricardo Rodriguez, Switzerland
On the back of a fine year with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, this 21-year-old has been showing what all the fuss is about with his rampaging runs forward and superb crossing technique.
RM – Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland
A little quiet in the nation’s first match, Shaqiri’s tournament has improved as things have gone on and the Bayern Munich winger netted a hat-trick against the Hondurans.
CM – Christian Noboa, Ecuador
Marshaled the midfield brilliantly for his team and had the unheralded task of breaking up play in the middle and getting the ball forward.
CM – Granit Xhaka, Switzerland
Alongside Noboa in our midfield is a youngster who has established himself in Ottmar Hitzeld’s side and in a thriller with Les Bleus even got on the score-sheet.
LM – Mathieu Valbuena, France
The Marseille midfielder looks calm and composed at all times and simply oozes class, scoring in the 5-2 rout of Hitzfeld’s men as well.
ST – Karim Benzema, France
Started the tournament with a bang with two goals against Honduras and the Madrid striker’s current tally stands at three so far.
ST – Enner Valencia, Ecuador
Ecuador scored three goals in Brazil and this striker got them all, catching the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the process.
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