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SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps has dropped coveted midfielder Paul Pogba and restored center forward Olivier Giroud in his team to face Switzerland in Friday's World Cup Group E match.
Deschamps has made two changes from the team which beat Honduras 3-0, with Moussa Sissoko replacing Pogba and Giroud coming in for winger Antoine Griezmann, meaning that Karim Benzema will move out wide to the left in France's attack.
Pogba was lucky not to be sent off in that match for aiming a wild kick at Wilson Palacios, and Deschamps warned him during the week that he needs to control his temper better.
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has also made two changes, with Haris Seferovic and Admir Mehmedi forming a new-look attack.
Seferovic, who scored a late winner in the 2-1 win against Ecuador, replaces Josip Drmic and midfielder Valentin Stocker also drops to the bench.
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Switzerland: Diego Benaglio, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Steve Von Bergen, Johan Djourou, Ricardo Rodriguez, Gokhan Inler, Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami, Xherdan Shaqiri, Admir Mehmedi, Haris Seferovic.
France: Hugo Lloris; Mathieu Deubuchy, Raphael Varane, Mamadou Sakho, Patrice Evra, Moussa Sissoko, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Olivier Giroud, Karim Benzema.
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