Paul Pogba shone through the mediocrity as hosts France secured top spot in Euro 2016 Group A following a subdued 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Lille yesterday.
A game that featured a substandard pitch, ripped Switzerland shirts and a burst ball concluded in a mutually convenient result that allowed the Swiss to join Didier Deschamps’s France in the last 16.
But Pogba, dogged by controversy over an alleged contentious gesture prior to the game, did his best to illuminate proceedings, hitting the bar twice, as did French substitute Dimitri Payet late in the game.
As group winners, France will face the third-place team in either Group C, D or E in Lyon on June 26, while Switzerland will come up against either Germany, Poland or Northern Ireland a day earlier.
It was mission accomplished, therefore, for France, but following narrow wins over Romania and Albania, their failure to record a seventh consecutive victory means they advance with little momentum.
A dry, patchy pitch at Stade Pierre-Mauroy made it difficult for both teams to get the ball down and play football, but aside from a few slips, Pogba did not seemed perturbed by the conditions underfoot.
One of five players brought into the France team by Deschamps, in changes that saw in-form playmaker Payet left on the bench, the Juventus star seemed determined to erase the memory of his alleged ‘bras d’honneur’ following Payet’s second goal in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Albania.
Deployed in his preferred position on the left of a midfield three, he threatened three times in five minutes, forcing Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer to produce a wonder save in between two efforts that clipped the bar from outside the box.
He also provided the first half’s only real moment of danger in the French penalty area when he unintentionally scuffed Xherdan Shaqiri’s eighth-minute corner towards his own goal.
The ball struck Swiss centre-back Johan Djourou, sprawled on the French goal-line, and Pogba hacked clear.
Pogba aside, Switzerland’s biggest concern in the first period was the flimsiness of their shirts as Admir Mehmedi, Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo all had big holes torn in theirs.
Switzerland began to find joy behind French full-backs Bacary Sagna and Patrice Evra in the second half, but the chances continued to fall to France.
Switzerland have now gone seven games without beating France, since a 2-1 win masterminded by current England coach Roy Hodgson in May 1992, but they will now contest a Euro knockout phase for the first time. Sport Pages 1, 2, 3
Albania down Romania and stay alive
Albania’s Euro 2016 could continue into the knock-out phase after the debutants ended their scoring drought to eliminate Romania with a 1-0 victory in Lyon yesterday. Armando Sadiku’s 43rd minute header took Albania to three points in Group A, above bottom Romania on one, and leaves them with an anxious wait to see if they will be one of the four best third-place teams who progress. It was Albania’s first-ever goal at a major tournament finals.
Romania started brightly before losing their rhythm during the first half and Sadiku’s goal was deserved when it arrived. After the interval, Ledian Memushaj twice went close to doubling Albania’s lead before substitute Florin Andone hit the woodwork late on for Romania.
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