PARIS (AP) – The French progressed to the second round of the European Championship they’re hosting with a 2-0 win over Albania, keeping their supporters and coach Didier Deschamps on edge right to the end on Wednesday.
For the second successive match, France left it late to secure victory with Antoine Griezmann giving the home team the lead in the 90th minute with a header. Dimitri Payet put the result beyond doubt with his second impressive goal of the tournament deep in stoppage time.
“I would prefer us to break the deadlock a little earlier,” Deschamps said.
France meets Switzerland in its last Group A match in Lille on Sunday, when the Swiss are hoping to qualify for the knockout stages of the European Championship for the first time.
Switzerland closed in on the round of 16 on Wednesday, rallying for a 1-1 draw with Romania at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Bogdan Stancu put Romania ahead in the 18th minute with a penalty – his second at Euro 2016 – after Switzerland captain Stephan Lichtsteiner pulled an opponent’s shirt.