Wilson Palacios charged into French midfielder Paul Pogba seconds before the break in a reckless challenge that had him sent-off for a second booking, and Karim Benzema smashed home the resulting penalty to give France a lead they deserved having dominated the first 45 minutes.
France doubled their advantage after 48 minutes when Benzema lashed the ball against the inside of a post and saw it rebound against keeper Noel Valladares and though he scooped it clear, the goal was awarded after the intervention of goalline technology that said the whole ball had crossed the line.
Benzema made it three with a piledriver in the 72nd minute to complete the win that put France top of their group on goal difference ahead of top seeds Switzerland, who beat Ecuador 2-1 in the dying seconds of their earlier clash in Brasilia.
