Euro 2016: France beats Albania, advances to knockout stage

Late goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet helped France become the first team to advance to the knockout stage of the European Championship on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Albania.

For the second consecutive match, late pressure rescued a patchy France side that is struggling to live up to its pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites.

Against Romania on Friday, it was Payet's superb strike from distance that won it, and this time — with the clock running down — Griezmann placed himself perfectly to nod in a cross from center half Adil Rami.

France President Francois Hollande jumped out of his seat and thrust his arms in the air, and the Stade Velodrome rose as one to hail Payet after another outstanding finish.

With grace and poise reminiscent of France great Zinedine Zidane, Payet cut in from the left and beat two players before curling in the second goal.

Payet was France's creative force and is fast forging a reputation as both a creative supplier of chances and finisher of lethal quality.

But it was cruel on Albania, which nearly took the lead early in the second half when right back Elseid Hysaj drove in a powerful cross that France defender Bacary Sagna turned onto the post while under pressure from midfielder Ledian Memushaj.

Confounding that generalization about weaker sides, Albania clearly came to play and made France sweat — especially left back Patrice Evra, tormented all night by Hysaj.

Switzerland 1, Romania 1

Switzerland closed in on a spot in the next round of the European Championship with a 1-1 draw against Romania on Wednesday.

Admir Mehmedi scored a 57th-minute equalizer with a powerful left-foot shot to ensure the Swiss have four points ahead of their final Group A match against France.

Romania took the lead against the run of play in the 18th minute when Bogdan Stancu scored with his second penalty in two games. But although Romania hit the post through Cristian Sapunaru's first-half shot, Switzerland had more and better scoring chances.

Romania has only one point from two matches, but should be favoured to beat Albania in its last match. 

The new 24-team format means the third-place teams in the six groups have a good chance to reach the round of 16.

Switzerland has never advanced from its group at a European tournament, and missed a good opportunity to hit coach Vladimir Petkovic's target of two straight wins to clinch advancement with a game to spare.

Pressing for victory, Switzerland lacked some team-first focus. Xherdan Shaqiri and Blerim Dzemaili opted for volleyed shots that flew high and wide when teen substitute Breel Embolo was better placed.

On the other end, Stancu has now totally wrong-footed two of Europe's best goalkeepers from the penalty spot at Euro 2016. France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was beaten to his left in Romania's 2-1 loss last Friday, and Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer guessed left as the ball went to his right.

In contrast, Switzerland forward Haris Seferovic once more wasted a chance at Euro 2016 after missing several chances to finish off Albania in a nervy 1-0 win last Saturday.

Slovakia 2, Russia 1 

​Russia couldn't find a way back this time, leaving the team in danger of early elimination from the European Championship after a 2-1 loss to Slovakia earlier on Wednesday. 

The Russian defence was split by Marek Hamsik's long pass, which set up Vladimir Weiss for Slovakia's first goal in the 32nd minute. And Weiss turned provider on the stroke of half time as Hamsik powered in the second at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

"He was superb with the ball but also helped a lot in defence and scored a beautiful goal," Slovakia coach Jan Kozak said of Hamsik.

The Russians pulled one back in the 80th minute through Denis Glushakov's header, but the loss left them with only one point from two matches in Group B.

And Russia, which will host the 2018 World Cup, still has problems both on and off the field.

The red flare set off by Russian fans after Glushakov's goal could prove problematic for the federation, which has been threatened with disqualification from Euro 2016 by UEFA if there is further misbehaviour by its fans in stadiums.

On Saturday in Marseille, Russian fans attacked their English rivals after their team scored late to earn 1-1 draw. There was no repeat of the violence in Lille, however.

Russia will next face Wales on Monday in Toulouse, while Slovakia plays England at the same time in Saint-Etienne.

The composed Slovaks, who won a match at the continental championship for the first time, exposed the ineffectiveness of a disjointed Russian side that lacked creativity until the final minutes.