Agence France-Presse
Marseille, June 16: Late goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet booked hosts France’s place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 after overcoming stiff resistance from European Championship debutants Albania. Incidentally, the hosts became the first team to reach the last eight stage.
Griezmann came off the bench here to head the opener in the 90th minute before West Ham United’s Payet strengthened his reputation by smashing home a second deep into added time. He had also struck a late winner in the opening game of the tournament against Romania.
“This is becoming a bit of a habit, I’d rather prefer us to break the deadlock a bit earlier. We cannot be complacent anymore during any part of the match,” said a relieved French coach Didier Deschamps after the game. “Until the final whistle is blown there is still a chance to win the game, especially against teams who you have to wear down. So we have to be remain positive always.”
Deschamps surprisingly left Juventus star Paul Pogba and Griezmann on the bench in the only two changes from the game against Romania. Les Bleus only kicked into gear with Pogba and Griezmann reunited with the mercurial Payet after the break.
Griezmann finally made the breakthrough as the clock ticked into stoppage time, stooping to turn home Adil Rami’s cross. And Payet capped another man of the match performance by firing into the far corner to round off a harsh scoreline on Albania.
France next face Switzerland in Lille, Sunday with the Swiss also on the verge of reaching the knockout stage after a 1-1 draw with Romania in Paris.
Bogdan Stancu’s penalty gave Romania the advantage at the Parc des Princes. The Swiss spurned a host of chances to score before Admir Mehmedi finally slammed home to level just before the hour mark.
France were hesitant and risk-averse in a forgettable first half as the ploy of using the speed of Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial out wide failed to come off.
Albania, desperate to make their mark in their first major tournament after an early red card scuppered their chances in their opening game against Switzerland, defended with gusto and almost went ahead early in the second half when French full-back Bacary Sagna bundled the ball against his own post.
With the half time introduction of Pogba and then Griezmann, France eventually got moving as Olivier Giroud sent a header wide then thumped another against a post.
However, with Albania taking every opportunity to slow the game – half the team taking it in turns to go down with cramp – it was looking as if France were going to have to settle for a point.
Griezmann, however showed Giroud how to connect with a header, with Payet capping another enterprising display by adding the icing after a quickfire break.
