Switzerland vs. France: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

France and Switzerland both qualified for the last 16 of UEFA Euro 2016 after playing out a 0-0 draw in Lille on Sunday. The French have gone through as winners of Group A, while the Swiss made history with their first-ever qualification, per WhoScored.com.  

It was ample reward for a side that set out to be compact and resolute. Switzerland were efficient on the ball, forcing France to chase possession and nullifying the hosts' attacking talent.

With six points already in the bag, group leaders France rested a host of stars, as beIN Sports' Matt Spiro detailed:

The tournament's official site provided manager Didier Deschamps' reshuffled starting XI:

Meanwhile, Switzerland still had new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka anchoring the base of midfield, according to the national team's official Twitter:

The standout name was Andre-Pierre Gignac, who came in for Olivier Giroud and Anthony Martial as the focal point in attack. Giroud and Martial had struggled in previous matches, while Gignac, a target man with underrated technical quality, offered the potential for fresh ideas.

OptaJean detailed how the well-travelled 30-year-old has managed to thrive at this level recently:

Paul Pogba stood tallest in a lively opening, smashing a shot off the woodwork, forcing Yann Sommer into a fantastic save and teasing more than one devilish ball into the box.

BBC Match of the Day detailed how Juventus man Pogba was taking the game to the Swiss:

His increased attacking intent was obvious:

Yet, for all his brilliance in midfield, Switzerland had arguably the best chance of the opening exchanges, per Onefootball:

"

Here is the #SUI chance from earlier:

3EURO2016 #FRASUI pic.twitter.com/YjtEj6TAug

— Onefootball (@Onefootball) June 19, 2016"

As close as that was to a goal, the Swiss struggled to really impose themselves in the final third during the first 30 minutes, and Pogba was soon on the offensive again. He forced Sommer into another impressive stop:

One of Deschamps' replacements was impressive in a key position for the French, according to Squawka:

The same source was left suitably enamoured with Xhaka's control of things in midfield:

When a game is goalless at half-time, though, the spotlight naturally belongs on the men at the back. One of Xhaka's new teammates was really catching the eye and proving his worth for the host nation, per Spiro:

The French were still sluggish at the start of the second half, allowing Xhaka and Valon Behrami to own the ball in midfield. Needing a spark, Gignac and Antoine Griezmann finally combined at the other end, when the former laid the ball off for the latter to shoot, but Sommer tipped over. 

Yet, not even that chance was enough to make Deschamps resist introducing Dimitri Payet to try and provide some inspiration. The mercurial West Ham United man replaced jet-heeled winger Kingsley Coman who struggled to assert himself after the break.

Payet needed the ball to make a difference, though, and getting it wouldn't be easy with Xhaka still taking the greatest care in possession:

Instead of a slick pass, it was the direct pace of Moussa Sissoko that teed Payet up to score. The Newcastle United midfielder clipped a great cross to the edge of the box that Payet met side-footed on the volley.

Sadly, what would have been a terrific goal was ruined by the crossbar:

The match petered out after that chance with both sides clearly content with a share of the spoils and safe passage to the last 16. Still, there was a late penalty claim for the Swiss in stoppage time, per Match of the Day:

Had this been awarded and converted, the top two places in the group would have been flipped, something the Swiss may rue when the draw for the knockout phase is made.

Post-Match Reaction

Deschamps pulled no punches when quizzed about France's lacklustre display, per the tournament's official site:

Deschamps may not have been impressed, but Xhaka commended one laudable quality in the French performance:

"

Xhaka: "France were in a class of their own, very strong in defence. Our team performed well too." #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/3RHvi6Rz81

— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 19, 2016"

Meanwhile, Swiss boss Vladimir Petkovic is determined to use the break in play before the last 16 to sharpen some aspect of his team's game:

Both sides need to show greater fluency going forward, but they have still negotiated the group stage despite not yet hitting their best level. If they can hit peak form for the knockout phase, France and Switzerland can still go far in this tournament.