MX23RW : Thursday, February 6 18:26:57| >> :600:177365738:177365738:

Preview: Ecuador vs. France

Sports Mole peers ahead to the Group E match on Wednesday, as France look to wrap up top spot.

France can make it three World Cup group wins out of three when they face Ecuador at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana on Wednesday evening.

Les Bleus have netted eight goals in their opening two matches and are now looking to ensure that they avoid Argentina in the last 16.

Didier Deschamps's men are all but guaranteed to finish top of Group E because of their superior goal difference, but they could be leapfrogged if Ecuador beat them by four goals.

Deschamps could rest some of his biggest names, with Loic Remy and Laurent Koscielny two of the squad hoping to earn their first starts of the tournament.

Yohan Cabaye is definitely absent after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament.

Ecuador are likely to stick with a similar XI to the side that beat Honduras as they look to oust Switzerland into second place.

This match sees two of the leading goalscorers in action, with both Karim Benzema and Enner Valencia joint-top of the tournament's scoring charts on three goals.

The last time these two sides met was in a friendly in Grenoble six years ago. France won 2-0 that day thanks to a brace from Bafetimbi Gomis.

Recent form

Ecuador: WLDLDW

France: WWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Ecuador: Dominguez, Paredes, Ayovi, Minda, Guagua, Erazo, Antonio Valencia, Noboa, Enner Valencia, Caicedo, Montero

France: Lloris; Debuchy, Varane, Koscielny, Evra; Sissoko, Schneiderlein, Matuidi; Remy, Giroud, Griezmann

Sports Mole says: 1-3

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France's forward Olivier Giroud (R) vies with Jamaican's defender Kemar Lawrence during the friendly football match between France and Jamaica at the Pierre Mauroy stadium, on June 08, 2014
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