Rampant France takes 3-0 lead over Switzerland at halftime at World Cup

France's Blaise Matuidi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the group E World Cup soccer match between Switzerland and France at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) (The Associated Press)

Switzerland's Stephan Lichtsteiner, left, and France's Blaise Matuidi go for a header during the group E World Cup soccer match between Switzerland and France at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (The Associated Press)

SALVADOR, Brazil – Olivier Giroud and Blasie Matuidi scored a minute apart and Mathieu Valbuena added another to give rampant France a 3-0 lead over Switzerland at halftime in their World Cup Group E match on Friday.

From Valbuena's corner, Giroud jumped above Valon Behrami near the back of the penalty area to head powerfully under the crossbar in the 17th minute.

Behrami then gave the ball away to Benzema, who quickly fed Matuidi sprinting down the left, and the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder slotted neatly inside the near post.

After the Swiss had gone close, Benzema missed a chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot when goalkeeper Diego Benaglio guessed the right way to palm away his effort.

But Giroud then set up Valbuena in the 40th after breaking down the left.