Day 6 - Group A: France v. Albania
posted by The Blue Devil @ 1:42 PM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- Day 6 - Group B: Russia v. Slovakia
- France 2016 Predictions Game - Group Stage Update #1
- Day 5 - Group F: Portugal v. Iceland
- Day 4 - Group E: Italy v. Belgium
- Day 4: Group D: Spain v. Czech Republic
- Day 3 - Group C: Germany v. Ukraine
- Day 3 - Group C: Northern Ireland v. Poland
- Day 3 - Group D: Croatia v. Turkey
- Day 2 - Group B: England v. Russia!
- Day 2 - Group B: Wales v. Slovakia
123 Comments:
Romania and Switzerland have completed a 1-1 draw in the mid-day affair. That means that Switzerland are top of the group now on four points after their opening 1-0 win over Albania. That puts a bit of pressure on France to get a win today.
The French and Albania sides are out on the pitch warming up now. The cameras are firmly focused on goalscorer Giroud and playmaker Payet who scored the winner against Romania with a scorching drive.
Is Paul Pogba capable of taking a game by the scruff of his neck for his country? Is Antoine Griezmann suffering from fatigue? Despite heading in the opener from Payet’s cross, should Olivier Giroud really be starting up front instead of Anthony Martial? And if it hadn’t been Patrice Evra who blundered, which member of France’s back four would have given away the penalty? Because that defence is always going to give you a chance.
A lot of chatter about Paul Pogba's role. I just don't see why Deschamps sees that he needs three defensive middies, especially against the likes of Albania. Release the hounds, mate!
So, here's the team news out of Marseille:
France: Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra; Kante, Matuidi; Coman, Payet, Martial; Giroud.
Albania: Berisha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Mavraj, Agolli; Kukeli, Xhaka, Abrashi; Roshi, Sadiku, Lenjani.
Referee: Willie Collum (Scotland).
So, as you can see, the big news is that Pogba has been left out in favor of Kung Fu Panda up front.
Golden Boot update - I've just noticed that it was Bogdan Stancu who scored Romania's goal in the earlier one today. That's a brace of penalties for Stancu, who now leads the Golden Boot race? Did anyone pick him? Err....no.
For all that France are favourites, though, it’s almost a year to the day since they were beaten 1-0 by Albania in a friendly. It was Albania’s first win over France. And they did have their chances against Switzerland. But surely there won’t be a repeat tonight.
"La Marseillaise" thundering forward now - still an anthem that should raise the little hairs on the backs of the French players. If they can't get up for a match after that sing-song, they're not quite alive.
Of course, the Albanian skipper - and my Red Card boy - Lorik Cana is suspended today.
A round of applause now to memorialize two French policemen who were killed in Marseille on Monday night.
And Albania get us away in this one.
That's a stirring anthem. And no coincidence one written after a people's revolution, eh?
We narrowly nick a point off the Brits in 1812 and we get? The dirge-like SSB.
Stewart Robson thinks it's "unbelievable" that Deschamps has left out Paul Pogba, who he considers the best midfielder in Europe.
Who's this Kung Fu Panda bloke you've mentioned?
True enough, mate. Welcome - hope you're having a good day. What do you make of Didier's decision to leave out Pogba?
Payet has an early chance to swing in a free kick - and it's nodded over by Giroud. He seems to need a few chances to get his sights on goal, so it's a good sign for Les Bleus that he's involved early.
I think it's unnecessarily cautious. Perhaps a knock?
Evra loses out in midfield. He really seems a step or two behind the pace. Surely Deschamps has a better option at left back.
I agree; I would have left out Matuidi, who's purely a water carrier. Kante is enough to cover that territory, especially against these mugs.
First chance for Kung Fu to stretch his legs. Runs into a blind alley though.
Albania get into the French half for the first time and the Albania partisans predictably go a bit potty.
Kung-Fu is Olivier?
Nice cross over and Giroud has his head on it again. Didn't get enough height though.
Nah - that's UWS and MUR's name Martial - as in Martial Arts.
Aha! Thanks for the translation.
Do Gooners have a nickname for Giroud?
As they proved against Switzerland, the Albanians are capable of creating the odd chance, so Les Bleus will have to be cautious, especially if the match continues to be goalless.
Giroud has gone off to get new studs or boots. He's been wearing one pink and one yellow one - hopefully he'll get that sorted out.
Albania haven’t been overawed so far. Lenjani has just had a foray up the left after a stray pass from Rami and though he didn’t get too far, that might give Albania a bit of confidence.
More possession for the Albanians. Lenjani tried his luck again but it's a high, wide and 'orrible slice.
Some whistles from the home crowd now, getting a bit restless about the French approach.
Kung Fu Panda strides on to an errant ball but then blasts into a defender.
Payet can swing another free kick in - Giroud is the main target.
Mais bien sur. Olivier sont le HFB, n'est pas?
I'm quite impressed by Kingsley Coman, a 20 year old right back for France who apparently is a Juve product on loan at Bayern. Like the cut of his jib.
Corner conceded by a horrible slice - Payet to take. Nodded out - he hasn't really found his range yet.
Stewart Robson is still bellyaching about the absence of Pogba.
The words Dog and Bone are never far away from a pretty succinct description of Robson.
Martial has two Albanians on him every time he touches the ball.
I don't know why these guys get to have careers in broadcasting.
Oh - Kung Fu had a chance there with the thru ball from Payet but he controlled it rather than hitting it first time.
It must be a pretty serious old-boys-network. Craig Burley, Tony Kaye, Stewart Robson, maybe they're all secret Masons.
Half-way through this half, things are going a bit like they did against the Romanians. The Albanians are frustrating the French fairly effectively.
Good shout, there. I can understand why legends like Lineker and Shearer can parlay their fame into broadcasting careers but many of these guys I can't even remember from their playing days.
France haven’t played with a great deal of fluency yet. There have been a few too many loose passes for Deschamps’ liking,
That's fair, but given that two Albanians pop up out of Martial's socks every time he looks at a ball, perhaps a half-time change that included somebody more forward leaning?
I agree - Martial looks like he's getting really frustrated.
If England were to have to face France, it's clear how to nullify the threats:
1. Put two on Martial
2. Watch the aerial threat from Giroud
3. Don't foul anyone within thirty yards of goal so that Payet has a free kick chance
Sadiku seems to be keen on trying a pop from any distance.
Half an hour gone now and the French crowd is getting restless.
Yes to all 1-2-3, and either beat Kosz for height with a cross, or Rami with a ball on the ground because his feet are made of s***
Payet swings a long free kick into the area - it's caught comfortably by Berisha.
I don't know why the big boys don't come up for free kicks and corners. It seems as if Giroud is the only target.
Another free kick for Payet two knock in - it's really too low and Giroud has to stoop for it - puts it over harmlessly.
Oh - that was close for Lenjani - another corner.
France break free finally - but Martial is cut out again.
We know what kind of free that Payet can take effectively. And it's not to pick out a forward. If no-one else, even Sagna can be counted on to put it on Giroud's, Rami's, or Kosc's head with a dead ball.
Another decent cross over by the Albanians.
Both of the Albanians that might have tucked in Lenjani's deflection were off-side.
I agree - running everything through Payet as a traditional #10 may not work for Les Bleus.
Free kick Albania now - Evra's injured himself in the process of fouling the bloke. He is a liability.
Memashaj over this free kick - just over the top; had Lloris a bit worried.
Lip readers will have picked out Giroud saying "Fuck Off!" to the referee.
Half-time: France troop off feeling pretty arsed off with themselves. It hasn't gone their way and toward the end of the half the Albanians even started to believe that they might score.
0-0
a very useful phrase around Mike Reid and co.
Yeah, the French are demonstrably off key. They are lucky that the Albanians are here to frustrate and maybe nick something with a bit of luck.
I expect a different attitude and direction in the second half from the French.
Paul Pogba is going through a very vigorous half-time workout, so it appears that Deschamps is about to do an about-face with him.
France get the second half underway. Paul Pogba has replaced the disappointing Anthony Martial, which means that Payet has moved to the left.
France have started this half with ominous intent, winning a free-kick on the left. Payet curls it in again, into the corridor of uncertainty. It’s one of those that needs only a touch, with Berisha rooted to his line, but it evades everyone and bounces wide of the far post.
As this half progresses with the same scoreline, the frustration is bound to creep in for the French.
Oh - off the post from Memoshaj!!!!!
Every French fan held their breath there.
Payet works an angle for a shot - it's deflected out for a corner.
Payer's corner is nodded out - the Albanian center backs really have done well with the set pieces.
Oh - that was France's best chance so far. Payet floated a lovely ball over with the outside of his right boot and Pogba sliding in at the backpost skied it over.
Kukeli becomes the first player in Euro 2016 to be suspended for the third match, picking up a yellow for a cynical block on Coman as he streaked clear.
Coman has suddenly started to find his way into the center forward position - he latches on to a loose ball but shanks his shot wide.
Griezmann warming up now - he'll likely be introduced if this keeps up.
France have gone to three at the back now with Coman roaming pretty much wherever he likes.
Payet jinks inside but sends his curler some 25 yards over.
Nearly half an hour gone now. Surely Deschamps will make another change soon.
Meanwhile Albanian Di Blasio must be delighted with how things are going. A point here keeps his side in the hunt in their final game against Romania.
It kicked off a bit here in the office. Now I'm back. Same score? That's bleak from the French.
Sagna earns a corner. Payet to take....
Useless cross nodded out easily.
Yeah - Pogba came on at the half for Martial. But it really hasn't changed much. Albania hit the post a while back - the closest we've come to a goal.
Good work by Coman on the left but his cross was far too long.
Pogba overlaps for Payet and wins yet another corner.
Albania seem fairly happy to defend these corners. Nearly 65 minutes in now.
France need a win to advance to the Round of 16. A draw won't do it. Griezmann looks to be coming on in a moment. Matiudi to come off - that would be my move too.
Oh - best chance yet for Giroud. Great ball over by Coman and he had a free header from about eight or nine yards. Should have done better.
No - it's Coman coming off. I don't understand that. He was one of the liveliest on the pitch and just laid one on Giroud's head. Typical conservatism from Deschamps.
Oh - off the post from Giroud now!
Berisha was completely beaten by that header - much better from Giroud.
Just over twenty minutes for Les Bleus to dig out this win now.
Oh - France had numbers over there but Pogba ran into trouble before dishing off to Payet.
Di Blasio has seen enough - a change for the Albanians, just freshening the pack.
Memoshaj was hacked there but the referee waved play on.
Albania make their first change, Odise Roshi replacing Andi Lila.
A brief break while Kukela gets some treatment. Now he's coming off to be replaced by Granit Xhaka's brother
Evra with another in a catalog of fouls. How has he stayed out of the book?
Giroud gets the hook - Gignac comes on for him.
Just over ten minutes to go now.
Oh - mad scramble in the box there. Gignac had a chance there but his poor touch took him too wide. The cross came over to Payet who found Sagna for a blast over the top.
Albania happy to knock it about aimlessly now.
Payet has a long range free kick now. Oh - Koz and Rami were both in there but neither could get on the end of it.
Oh - Griezmann had a chance there from Sagna's cross but he just couldn't get in front of the center back.
Kante hits one from distance that is deflected out for yet another corner.
Albania make their final change - Ajeti the center back off and Veseli on.
Five minutes and stoppage to come. This could be our first 0-0 match at France 2016.
Oh - Kante found Pogba in the box but he slipped.
And now Kante has raced back to chop down an Albanian. Yellow card for the Leicester man.
Desperate defending by the French now!
France break free and Payet finds Griezmann who heads wide.
GOAL! Substitute Griezmann finds the killer blow for France.
1-0!
It was Rami of all people who found himself out wide left and crossed beautifully for the Atletico man to nod home into the corner.
So that's Griezmann, another Golden Boot favorite among the LOB crowd to start his scoring campaign at France 2016.
That was France's first effort on target all night.
Well into stoppage time now - three minutes to come.
It's a funny old game, eh? France have been fairly abject and disjointed tonight but they'll become the first side to qualify for the R16 in a moment or two unless Albania come up with something late.
Koscielny is down after a clash of heads.
Despite two losses, I'm not sure that Albania would be knocked out here, given the new structure with third placed teams allowed in. They'd need a win for sure against Romania.
GOAL! Payet seals the deal for Les Bleus!!!!!!
Albania were stretched looking for the equalizer and Payet romped forward, jinked inside and then curled into the far corner. Very nice.
2-0!
And that's that. It was dire from France for about 89 minutes but that last five minutes or so may put a gloss on a poor performance. It's got to prompt some questions for Deschamps even though he won't need anything from the final match against Switzerland.
I'm off to do some errands. Cheerio!
Sorry that I've been so in and out.
I'm angry at France for being so abject, but I'm not going to miss Albania, one bit. Their style is all the riposte required to people in favor of bloating this tournament with more and more teams who can only succeed with obdurate organization and the odd bit of luck. I will miss those half pterodactyl egg hats that some of their fans sported in the stands. Those were bonkers.
Post a Comment
<< Home