France 2-0 Albania
- Published
Late goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet saw hosts France edge past Albania to become the first side to reach the Euro 2016 knockout stage.
Albania struck the post shortly after half-time when Ledian Memushaj bundled a cross past France keeper Hugo Lloris.
France striker Olivier Giroud also hit the upright before substitute Griezmann ended Albania's resistance by nodding in Adil Rami's right-wing cross.
Payet stroked in with the final kick to give the scoreline a flattering look.
Les Bleus scored with the game's only two shots on target, struggling to break down a stubborn Albania side as Giroud missed three free headers at Marseille's Stade Velodrome.
Defeat was harsh on the European Championship debutants, who looked to have done enough to earn their first point.
France needed a late goal from Payet to beat Romania in Friday's opening game, and another dramatic win means they are assured of a last-16 place before their final Group A match against Switzerland.
Albania, who lost their opening game against the Swiss, must beat Romania on Sunday to stand any chance of qualifying.
France shake off Albanian blues
Payet scores fine second as France progress
Almost a year ago, Didier Deschamps experienced one of his lowest points as France manager as his side lost to Albania in a friendly.
It was their third defeat in four international matches, a performance the French media described as "lacklustre", "listless" and "worrying".
For almost 90 minutes here, it looked as though another performance against Giovanni de Biasi's side would lead to an inquest on the back pages.
Les Bleus were expected to breeze past a side ranked 42nd in the world, a place above Scotland, but lacked invention and creativity until Griezmann's intervention.
The Atletico Madrid forward's glancing header brought relief to the majority of the 64,000 crowd, sparking celebrations similar to those that followed Payet's winner against Romania.
Dropped Griezmann proves his worth
Deschamps made a brave decision to drop Griezmann and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba - two of his potential match-winners - following uninspiring performances against Romania.
Manchester United's Anthony Martial and Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman replaced them - as they did in the Stade de France on Friday - but the two youngsters were unable to make much of an impact.
Pogba came on for Martial at half-time, while Coman - who had teed up two decent chances for Giroud - was replaced by Griezmann after 68 minutes.
Griezmann started on the bench after being dropped following the opening game
Pogba's arrival provided more spark, with the rangy midfielder sliding Payet's cross over the bar.
Griezmann scored 32 goals for Champions League finalists Atletico last season, but rarely threatened until popping up in space at the right time to break the deadlock.
Deschamps wanted the pair to give him another tough decision to make before the knockout stage - and France's 1998 World Cup-winning captain has been given his wish.
Another selection dilemma might involve Giroud who, despite scoring eight goals in his previous six international starts, still has to convince some critics of his worth.
Deschamps has continually offered public support to the 29-year-old Arsenal striker, but showed his frustration on the touchline after Giroud failed to convert pinpoint a fourth-minute cross from Payet and two more from Coman after the break.
Albania can take heart from stoic display
Despite their surprise win against Les Bleus last year, Albania were not expected to provide much of a challenge to the tournament favourites on a much bigger stage.
But the Balkan country showed few nerves amid a partisan atmosphere.
They quietened the home crowd with a dogged display, limiting France to only a few openings until the dramatic finish.
Attacks of their own may have been sporadic - particularly as the game wore on - but they did offer a few warning signs for France.
Pescara midfielder Memushaj nipped in front of the home defence to meet a teasing right-wing cross, only to see the ball come back off the upright before France scrambled clear.
France peppered the Albanian goal with 22 shots (left graphic), but only two - shown by the green arrows - hit the target. Albania managed eight shots, four off target (red arrows) and four blocked (yellow circles)
Stats of the day
Kingsley Coman (20 years and two days) is the youngest starter for France in a major finals, beating Bruno Bellone's record from World Cup 1982 (20 years and 118 days).
This was the first European Championship finals game without a first-half shot on target since France v Romania at Euro 2008.
This game eclipsed Romania v Portugal in 2000 (71 minutes) to become the Euro finals fixture since 1980 with the longest wait for a shot on target (Griezmann's goal on 90 mins).
Griezmann's goal was the first by a French substitute at the European Championship since the 2000 final v Italy (Sylvain Wiltord and David Trezeguet).
Three of France's four goals in the competition so far have come in the 89th minute or later.
Payet has already had a hand in three goals in the competition (two goals, one assist), the most for a French player in a Euro finals since Zinedine Zidane in 2004 (also three).
Albania have conceded both the earliest (Switzerland's Schar after five minutes) and the latest goal (France's Payet on 96 minutes) at Euro 2016 so far.
What next?
France travel back to the north of the country for their final Group A game, taking on neighbours Switzerland in Lille on Sunday.
Albania face Romania, who have one point from their opening two games, in Lyon.