France hit the bar on three occasions, but failed to beat Switzerland in their final match of Group A of the Euro 2016. However, the goalless draw was enough for The Blues to finish in the first place in the overall standings of the group. The draw was also a good result for the Swiss, who remained second in the group and will also continue to the Round of 16. In the other match Albania achieved a historic victory against Romania with the score of 1-0 and will be hoping to qualify for the next phase as one of the best four third teams. The Romanians are going to leave the tournament.
France played a strong first half in Lille, but The Blues were much more cautious during the second half. The team of Didier Deschamps, however, again did not concede a goal, although France’s defence is considered to be the weakest link of the team. At the end of the match The Blues were lucky that the referee Damir Skomina didn’t award the Swiss with a penalty.
The head coach Didier Deschamps made some changes in the starting eleven. He played Andre-Pierre Gignac in the attack. Moussa Sissoko and Yohan Cabaye also got a chance to shine. Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann, who came in as substitutes in the previous meeting, returned among the starting XI. The match in Lille was under number 50 in the career of French coach Deschamps.
Paul Pogba was the most creative player on the pitch. He hit the bar twice during the first half, but couldn’t find Switzerland’s net. It’s interesting that Pogba also showed another good “skills”. He proved that he knows how to tear off shirts, severing Mehmedi’s shirt twice.
However, the most interesting moment of the game, which described it best, was when Greizmann imploded the ball, stepping on it with his boot.
Dimitri Payet, who was left on the bench, came on the pitch after the 60th minute and made some good attempts on goal. He also hit the bar with a good volley, 15 minutes before the end of the game. Payet was compared with Michel Platiti, who scored 9 goals during the Euro 1984. We will see if Payet can take the glory at the end of the Euro 2016.
France will face the second best team in group C, so the Frenchmen will meet Poland, Northern Ireland or Germany.