ANTOINE GRIEZMANN struck in the last minute to break Albania’s hearts and give France victory.
The substitute rose to head home Adil Rami’s cross after a frustrating night of missed chances for the hosts.
Dimitri Payet added a second in the sixth minute of stoppage time with a right-foot shot, virtually the last kick of the game.
And after Payet’s late winner in the first game against Romania, it gave France a 100 per cent record at the top of Group A, booking their place in the round of 16.
The big news before kick-off was the axing of Paul Pogba and Griezmann by Deschamps.
The pair were replaced by Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman as France looked to exploit the space out wide.
But it proved to be in vain as they toiled in a frustrating first half where they created very little.
Payet, who was playing in a free role off Olivier Giroud, did his best to find a way through.
But he was constantly blocked by an Albanian white wall who showed that they were not there just to make up the numbers.
Neither side was really able to test the other’s goalkeeper as whistles rung around the stadium at half-time.
Desperate to find a solution to the problem, Deschamps threw on Pogba at the break in the hope he would make the difference.
The midfielder’s introduction lifted the mood and France twice went close as Coman and Payet saw efforts graze the post.
But Albania were threatening to catch the hosts out and they nearly took the lead when Ledian Memushaj’s bundled effort struck the post.
No comments:
Write comments