FIFA World Cup: Benzema joins elite group after

France's Karim Benzema scores his side's fourth goal during the match between Switzerland and France.

Didier Deschamps claims that Karim Benzema has finally discovered his "joie de vivre" with France and is now performing with the same consummate class for his country as he does for Real Madrid.

Benzema joined Thomas Muller, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot by taking his tally to three in the tournament with a goal in the 5-2 rout against Switzerland in Salvador. But for missing a first-half penalty, which was saved by the Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, Benzema would have moved clear of the pack with four goals at Brazil 2014.

Having been left out of Raymond Domenech's mutinous World Cup squad in South Africa, Benzema is now enjoying a belated first appearance at the tournament. But with the former Lyon forward often criticised for failing to take his club form to the international stage, France coach Deschamps insisted that Benzema was now delivering for his country.

"Karim has confirmed he is in very, very good form at this World Cup," Deschamps said. "It is evident that he has a joie de vivre, which makes you happy to see.

"But he is a world-class player, and since the play-off victory against Ukraine in November, he plays for France as he does for Real."

Benzema was irrepressible against the Swiss, as France again underlined why they could be a force in this most open of competitions.

Aside from his second-half goal against Switzerland, Benzema also created strikes for Blaise Matuidi and Moussa Sissoko, before having a goal ruled out by referee Bjorn Kuipers because it crossed the line within a second of the final whistle.

The victory ensured that France require a draw against Ecuador on Thursday to confirm their place in the second round. But despite the margin of their win against a Switzerland team ranked sixth in the Fifa rankings, Deschamps insisted that Ottmar Hitzfeld's team tested France.

"I think we saw in this match that this Switzerland side have their qualities," Deschamps said. "There is a great satisfaction but we don't inflate our egos."