France held 0-0 by Ecuador but go through

John Bagratuni, dpa 

France were held 0-0 by Ecuador at the World Cup on Wednesday but reached the knock-out stages as undefeated group winners while their opponents went out.

Lucas Digne was denied by the post and Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez made several good saves to deny the French a third straight win. But a red card for Manchester United's Antonio Valencia harmed the fighting Ecuadorians who were down to 10 men for 40 minutes.

France were not as sharp as in their 3-0 over Honduras and 5-2 over Switzerland but topped group E with seven points for a last-16 date with Nigeria.

The Swiss leap-frogged Ecuador for second place, and a meeting with Lionel Messi's Argentina, with six points thanks to a 3-0 against bottom side Honduras.

Ecuador (four) are the only South American team not to reach the knock-out stages as hosts Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Chile are all through.

Didier Deschamps changed half of the starting line-up from the big win over the Swiss, with suspended Yohan Cabaye joined by Mathieu Debuchy, Patrice Evra, Raphael Varane, Mathieu Valbuena and Olivier Giroud on the bench, and defenders Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny and Digne fielded along with midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Paul Pogba, plus forward Antoine Griezmann.

Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda by contrast only brought in Michael Arroyo instead of Felipe Caicedo compared to their 2-1 win over Honduras.

Les Bleus started brightly with lots of posession as Griezmann aimed wide right in the 10th and Moussa Sissiko volleying into the arms of Alexander Dominguez from the edge of the are shortly after.

Mamadou Sakho got away with elbowing Oswaldo Minda in the chest before Ecuador got adventurous after soaking up early French pressure - Hugo Lloris saving ahead of Jefferson Montero after a determined run by Enner Vlencia.

Karim Benzema almost got his fourth of the tournament as Dominguez only barely got his fingertips on Bacary Sagna's cross to deny the Real Madrid striker a point-blank header.

The keeper then also tipped a dangerous header from Juventus' Paul Pogba over the bar, and Lloris also stopped Enner Valencia's header on the other end as the game went into half-time scoreless.

Ecuador players were probably told in the dressing room to step up their attack because the Swiss were leading 2-0 in the other game but that never seemed to materialise.

France went inches from the lead when Dominguez managed to deflect Griezmann's left-footed volley against the right post in the 47th, and Ecuador were down to 10 men three mionutes later when Antonio Valencia was shown a straight red by Ivorian refereee Noumandiez Doue over a studs-up lunge for the ball with Digne.

With their backs against the wall, and urged on by the crowd Ecuador finally discovered their fighting sprit as Cristhian Noboa aimed wide from a good position on the counter.

But the revival was short-lived as France now really poured forward, with Blaise Matuidi aiming right at Dominguez and A deflected shot from Benzema falling just wide left.

Arsenal's Giroud and Loic Remy came on for more firepower but the two as well as Benzema were denied by Dominguez - whose exploits earned him the man-of-the-match award - while Lloris palmed away a final chance from Ecuador sub Alex Ibarra at the other end.