France leave it late to beat stubborn Albania, qualify for last 16

Updated 16/06/2016 at 07:10 GMT

Stade Velodrome, Group A – France 2 (Griezmann, 90, Payet, 90) Albania 0

France's forward Antoine Griezmann celebrates the team's first goal during the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Albania at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on June 15, 2016

Image credit: AFP

Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet scored the goals as France beat Albania 2-0 to make it two wins from two and qualify for the last 16.

France, for all their territorial superiority, failed to register a single shot on target until Griezmann made a decisive intervention in injury time.

Albania swept forward in search of a leveller but were hit with the ultimate sucker punch as Payet finished off a quick French break to secure France all three points.

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The result leaves France on a maximum of six points from their opening two games, with Albania bottom after two losses from two.

Switzerland are second after drawing 1-1 with Romania earlier in the day.

There was plenty of speculation in the build-up to the game that Didier Deschamps was planning to drop Griezmann and Paul Pogba, and the team news revealed that both players were left on the bench as part of a tactical reshuffle by the French.

France's coach Didier Deschamps (L) reacts after the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Albania at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on June 15, 2016

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Major tournament debuts for Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial was supposed to stretch the play and allow France to get in behind the Albanian defence, but the switch of style failed to click in a below-par first half that saw neither side able to conjure up anything resembling a clear-cut chance.

Pogba came off the bench at half-time and the pace of the game immediately improved, but it was Albania who came the closest to opening the scoring when Bacary Sagna turned a cross against his own post soon after the restart.

Griezmann replaced the lively Coman midway through the second half and the intensity went up another notch following the Atletico Madrid striker’s introduction.

Centre-forward Olivier Giroud hit the post as France threw more and more bodies forward, but Albania were unable to hold on as an unmarked Griezmann picked out the bottom corner of the net with a lovely header to make it 1-0 in the 90th minute and prove a point to his manager.

And Payet finished the game off with a clinical finish late in stoppage time to skew the scoreline in France’s favour.

France's forward Dimitri Payet (C) and his teammates react after the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Albania at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on June 15, 2016

Image credit: AFP

MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY & STATS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dimitri Payet (France) – The midfielder struggle to find space in a disappointing first half, but he was still the most influential player on the park and sparked into life after the break. A late goal gave Payet his second of the tournament, but it was his vision and speed of pass that played such a key role in keeping up the momentum as France sought the win. Payet is a certain pick now for France, which is hugely impressive given the quality in the squad.

PLAYER RATINGS

France: Lloris 7; Sagna 6, Rami 6, Koscielny 5, Evra 5; Kanté 6, Matuidi 7; Coman 7, Payet 8, Martial 5; Giroud 5. Subs: Pogba 7, Griezmann 7, Gignac 7.

Albania: Berisha 7; Hysaj 7, Ajeti 6, Mavraj 7, Agolli 7; Kukeli 6; Lila 6, Abrashi 6, Memushaj 6, Lenjani 6; Sadiku 5. Subs: Roshi 6, Xhaka 5, Veseli 5.

KEY MOMENTS

45’ – HALF-TIME – The whistle goes to end a frankly tedious half of football. France will need to step up their game after the break to avoid a big upset here, while Albania will be delighted with how it's gone so far.

51’ – POST – A cross into the box comes off Sagna and beats Lloris, only to come back off the post. Lenjani is unable to take advantage of the ricochet as he lies prone in the penalty area.

69’ – POST – Giroud gets up high to meet Evra's cross and he thumps a powerful header against the base of the post. France are getting closer and closer...

81’ – WASTE – A brilliant free-kick delivery by Payet puts it on a place for Koscielny, but the Arsenal man fails to make contact when presented with an unmarked header.

90’ – GOAL! – Antoine Griezmann scores for France to snatch the win for France. It's a cruel blow for Albania but a lovely angled header from the unmarked forward gave the goalkeeper no chance. 1-0!

95’ – GOAL! – Dimitri Payet picks up the ball on the break after a brilliant Pogba pass and the midfielder cuts back on to his left to open up space for a shot that curls around the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. 2-0 France.

France teammates celebrate their 2-0 win over Albania in the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Albania at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on June 15, 2016

Image credit: AFP