Switzerland 0 France 0: Euro 2016 hosts finish top of Group A as Granit Xhaka's side also progress after Dimitri Payet hits the bar

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Vaishali Bhardwaj19 June 2016

Euro 2016 hosts France topped Group A while Switzerland booked their place in the knockout stages of the tournament followng the two nations' goalless draw in Lille on Sunday evening.

Les Bleus had aleady qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2016, but came into their game with Switzerland knowing that anything other than defeat would see them top Group A.

Didier Deschamps therefore made five changes to his starting line-up - with star man Dimitri Payet benched - and it was Paul Pogba who proved the danger man for Les Bleus in the first half - having several chances to score but being denied each time by Yann Sommer.

Despite France's dominance over proceedings, Vladimir Petkovic's side did have their chances, with Admir Mehmedi coming close when he cut in and drove a shot just over Hugo Lloris' crossbar before the break.

As the tempo of the game slowed down, the tackles began to fly in and one incident saw Pogab rip new Arsenal signing, Granit Xhaka's shirt with the forward having to change jerseys in the second half when his shirt was pulled apart.

Switzerland came back from the half-time break the better of the two sides, but failed to stop Antoine Griezmann from testing Sommer twice before Deschamps brought on Payet in the hope the West Ham man could inspire the hosts to another victory.

And just minutes after his substitution, Payet could have scored what would have been one of the most spectacular goals of the tournament after he ran onto Moussa Sissoko's cross from the right and fired it at goal - only to see the ball rattle the crossbar.

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