Dimitri Payet scored yet another impressive goal as France left it late once again, overcoming a spirited Albania 2-0 to become the first team to advance to the knockout stages of the European Championship on Wednesday.
It is becoming quite a theme: early nerves, laborious first halves, chances spurned and rising star Payet popping up with a spectacular late goal.
“It’s true that I managed to make the difference again,” Payet said. “Things went well again for me tonight.”
This time, his strike deep into injury-time did not win the game like his last-minute goal in Friday last week’s 2-1 win against Romania did, as forward Antoine Griezmann had already headed his team ahead in the 90th.
“I would prefer us to break the deadlock a little earlier,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.
Leaving it late is not ideal — certainly not for frayed French nerves, including those of French President Francois Hollande, who jumped out of his seat and thrust his arms in the air when Griezmann scored.
The Stade Velodrome rose as one to hail Payet after another outstanding finish a few minutes later.
With grace and poise reminiscent of France great Zinedine Zidane, Payet cut in from the left and beat two players before firing in the second goal.
He was France’s creative force and is fast forging a reputation as both a supplier of chances and a finisher of lethal quality.
“He’s always had ability,” -Deschamps said. “He’s got a lot of confidence.”
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It was cruel on Albania, who nearly took the lead early in the second half when rightback Elseid Hysaj drove in a powerful cross that France defender Bacary Sagna turned onto the post while under pressure from midfielder Ledian Memushaj.
The ball flicked back off the post onto Memushaj’s head and rolled wide.
It was a reprieve for a complacent France side who were jeered off the field at halftime, the team’s supporters doubtless hoping for an easy ride against a team most observers had written off as defensive workhorses.
Confounding that generalization about weaker sides, Albania clearly came to play and made France sweat — especially leftback Patrice Evra, who was tormented all night by Hysaj.
“We didn’t just defend,” Albania coach Giovanni De Biasi said. “We had good chances.”
Midway through the first half, Hysaj got forward and his deflected cross just eluded the outstretched boot of center forward Armando Sadiku.
Just as against Romania, when he also set up Olivier Giroud’s opening goal, Payet provided France’s forward momentum and his goal bore a fitting resemblance to Zidane’s goal against Spain in the last 16 of their 2006 World Cup match.
At 29 years old, Payet is a revelation in international soccer, galvanized by a successful season for Premier League side West Ham where he scored several highlight-reel free-kicks.
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