France 2-0 Albania
Sould the final minutes of a game now be dubbed 'Deschamps time'? France team reporter David Crossan details the key points of Wednesday's win against Albania.
Belief begets late rallies
Much more of this and the final minutes will be dubbed 'Deschamps-time'. Just as against Romania, Les Bleus showed strength of character to pull off a victory, displaying admirable composure when the tension and pressure of the situation could have got the better of them. It is a happy knack to have, and mentally will be of service to France throughout the competition. As Adil Rami told EURO2016.com: "We never gave up, believing right to the death."
Much more of this and the final minutes will be dubbed 'Deschamps-time'. Just as against Romania, Les Bleus showed strength of character to pull off a victory, displaying admirable composure when the tension and pressure of the situation could have got the better of them. It is a happy knack to have, and mentally will be of service to France throughout the competition. As Adil Rami told EURO2016.com: "We never gave up, believing right to the death."
Systems and substitutes
France looked infinitely more comfortable after the interval when they switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. Last Friday, against Romania, it was the reverse alteration in the final quarter and the impact of fresh legs that had propelled France to the three points. The 4-3-3 is Deschamps's most-used system since taking over in 2012 and the evidence from Marseille suggests it's the one the players feel most comfortable with, while Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial's pace are best suited to taking on tiring defences at the end of games.
France looked infinitely more comfortable after the interval when they switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. Last Friday, against Romania, it was the reverse alteration in the final quarter and the impact of fresh legs that had propelled France to the three points. The 4-3-3 is Deschamps's most-used system since taking over in 2012 and the evidence from Marseille suggests it's the one the players feel most comfortable with, while Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial's pace are best suited to taking on tiring defences at the end of games.
Tough love
How many coaches would dare to relegate their two star players to the bench? Deschamps admitted post-match that neither Paul Pogba nor Antoine Griezmann were happy to be named among the substitutes. The demotion was always likely to be temporary, even more so after their match-turning contributions against Albania. Griezmann's headed goal was France's first attempt on target. The stats suggest he's a "supersub" as he has scored six international goals in ten appearances off the bench. The Atlético forward has only two goals from 19 France starts and needs to start chipping in with strikes when listed from the first whistle.
RulesHow many coaches would dare to relegate their two star players to the bench? Deschamps admitted post-match that neither Paul Pogba nor Antoine Griezmann were happy to be named among the substitutes. The demotion was always likely to be temporary, even more so after their match-turning contributions against Albania. Griezmann's headed goal was France's first attempt on target. The stats suggest he's a "supersub" as he has scored six international goals in ten appearances off the bench. The Atlético forward has only two goals from 19 France starts and needs to start chipping in with strikes when listed from the first whistle.
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| Man of the match Dimitri Payet |
Sevilla defender Rami is one of the unlikely success stories of the tournament. Having not featured for France since 2013, the Europa League winner went public with his disappointment at not making the initial cut for UEFA EURO 2016, only to get his chance when Deschamps summoned a replacement for the injured Raphaël Varane. Not only has Rami been part of a defence that has kept two clean sheets in three internationals, he also provided an unlikely assist for Griezmann's goal. The statisticians tell me it was the first time the powerful centre-half had attempted a cross in his 29 internationals.
The Stade Vélodrome never forgets
After trophy-laden spells as a Marseille player and coach, Deschamps was always going to get a special reception, and so it proved. Dimitri Payet and André-Pierre Gignac, other former Vélodrome idols, revelled in the same acclaim, and it was fitting that Payet's second goal in as many UEFA EURO 2016 games capped off the night. France won in Marseille on their way to lifting UEFA EURO 1984 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil, and should the victories keep coming then Les Bleus will return to the Mediterranean city on July 7 for the semi-finals.
After trophy-laden spells as a Marseille player and coach, Deschamps was always going to get a special reception, and so it proved. Dimitri Payet and André-Pierre Gignac, other former Vélodrome idols, revelled in the same acclaim, and it was fitting that Payet's second goal in as many UEFA EURO 2016 games capped off the night. France won in Marseille on their way to lifting UEFA EURO 1984 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil, and should the victories keep coming then Les Bleus will return to the Mediterranean city on July 7 for the semi-finals.
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