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France vs Albania. European Championships Group A.

Stade VelodromeAttendance63,670.

France 2

  • A Griezmann (90th minute)
  • D Payet (96th minute)

Albania 0

    France 2-0 Albania: Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet secure late win

    Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates with Laurent Koscielny
    Image: Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring against Albania

    Late goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet saw France beat Albania 2-0 in Marseille on Wednesday and book their place in the last 16 of Euro 2016.

    Having started the match on the bench along with Paul Pogba, it was Griezmann who made the breakthrough against a resolute Albania when he headed home in the 90th minute.

    French lessons
    French lessons

    Talking points from France's win: Payet, Pogba and Giroud analysed...

    Payet then added his second of the tournament deep into injury-time when he curled home on the counter.

    The hosts will now meet Switzerland on Sunday in a match that will decide who finishes top of Group A.

    Despite having beaten Romania in their opener, Didier Deschamps decided to drop two of his star players, Griezmann and Pogba, and handed starts to Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman.

     Dimitri Payet of France celebrates after he scored his side's second goal against Albania
    Image: Dimitri Payet celebrates after he scored the second goal

    But France were lacklustre in the first half and created little in the final third at the Stade Velodrome.

    Olivier Giroud headed over an early Payet free-kick but Albania soon settled into the game and were relatively untroubled by the hosts, who they beat in a friendly last year.

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    While Albania did not create many chances of their own, they stifled France's attacking threat, with Martial spurning the best opening when he took a touch in the box rather than shoot first time.

    Antoine Griezmann of France scores his side's first goal
    Image: Griezmann heads home

    It was Albania who finished the first half on top, with Ermir Lenjani having a shot blocked from a corner and Ledian Memushaj curling a free-kick over the bar.

    Deschamps introduced Pogba at the break in place of Martial, and France almost immediately took the lead as Coman headed wide.

    Albania midfielder Amir Abrashi (L) gestures as France midfielder Paul Pogba holds him back during the Euro 2016 group A football match in Marseille
    Image: Paul Pogba (R) was introduced at the break

    But Albania went closer as a cross into the box deflected off Bacary Sagna and hit the post, with Memushaj unable to turn in the rebound from the ground.

    From then on, it was the hosts who created the better chances, Pogba hitting a half volley over the bar, Giroud heading against the post and Sagna firing off target from inside the box.

    Albania defender Arlind Ajeti  (L) vies for the ball against France forward Olivier Giroud
    Image: Albania defender Arlind Ajeti (L) vies for the ball against Olivier Giroud

    It looked as though France were going to be frustrated as Laurent Koscielny fluffed a close-range header and N'Golo Kante's shot deflected wide.

    However, they eventually made the breakthrough when Adil Rami's right-wing cross was headed in by a wide open Griezmann.

    Payet then made sure of victory deep into injury-time, finishing from inside the box.

    The France squad celebrate with Antoine Griezmann after he scored his sides first goal against Albania
    Image: The France squad celebrate with Griezmann

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