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As it happenedended

France vs Albania Euro 2016 live: Latest score and updates from Group A clash at Stade Velodrome

Follow live coverage of the Group A clash in Marseille

Sam Dymond
Wednesday 15 June 2016 11:17 EDT
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France's players applauding the Stade de France crowd on Friday
France's players applauding the Stade de France crowd on Friday (Getty)

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Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Wednesday's Group A clash between France and Albania at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.

  • Dimitri Payet's fabulous late winner sealed three points and a 2-1 win for France over Romania
  • The hosts put in a laboured display in the tournament's opening game and will hope for improvement in Marseille
  • Albania were defeated 1-0 by Switerzland in a tight affair at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis
  • Gianni De Biasi's side conceded an early headed goal to Fabian Schär and failed to draw level, despite enjoying several goal-scoring opportunities
  • France currently lead Group A over Switzerland by virtue of goals scored
  • Albania are bottom of the group, behind Romania

Follow live coverage with our live blog below...

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22 mins: The game has really livened up now, and Andrei Prepelita is the first player into the book of Sergey Karasev after a sliding lunge into Granit Xhaka from behind.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 17:24

24 mins: And now Alexandru Chipciu is shown a yellow card. The left-sided Romanian player is cautioned after a hefty barge into the body of Stephan Lichtsteiner on the touchline after the Swiss captain had roamed forward in an effort to make amends for his earlier indiscretion.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 17:26

28 mins: Romania go close to a second! After a free-kick is sent hopefully into the 18-yard box from the left, the ball falls at the feet of Cristian Sapunaru ten yards from goal. The right-back does well to dig the ball out from between his feet and shoot, but despairs a second later when it clips off the outside of the post.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 17:32

33 mins: It's now the Swiss who have the chance to threaten with a set-piece, central and 25 yards from goal. Ricardo Rodriguez tries his luck, curling a left-footed effort over the wall, but it doesn't have the power or pace to beat Tatarusanu, who comfortably holds on at his far post.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 17:35

37 mins: A third Romanian name in the book, and another foul that was completely unnecessary. Valon Behrami took possession on the halfway line and turned to face the 15 players ahead of him, only for Claudiu Keseru to inexplicably pull him back. This is the complete opposite of all those clever tactical fouls from the Italians the other night.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 17:40

SECOND HALF KICK-OFF: We're back underway at the Parc des Princes where Romania have made a substitution. Mihai Pintilii was unable to shake off an injury picked up in the first half and so Ovidiu Hoban has entered the fray. Back on the pitch, it's more of the same as shambolic Swiss defending in the opening seconds of the restart gives the substitute an immediate chance to make an impact, but he pulls his effort across goal and wide.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 18:02

52 mins: Epic defending or fortunate to get away with not conceding an own goal? Only Johan Djourou really knows if his last-ditch intervention was intended, but the defender has just kept Romania at bay by prodding a dangerous cross an inch wide of Yann Sommer's post.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 18:10

56 mins: GOAL! ROMANIA 1 SWITZERLAND 1:

Switzerland have their leveller! A Ricardo Rodríguez corner on the left was challenged for by Haris Seferovic, Johan Djourou and a host of Romanian defenders. From that melee, the ball dropped to the arriving Admir Mehmedi ten yards out, who took a second to compose himself, before sending an arrowed volley flying through a crowd of players and into the far corner. It was a finish that was the very definition of aplomb, and gave Ciprian Tatarusanu absolutely no chance in the Romania goal.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 18:13

Here come the hosts and the underdogs. The players of favourites, France, and Albania, the lowest ranked team in the European Championships, take to the field at the Stade Vélodrome for the pre-match formalities and national anthems.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 19:57

Le Marseillaise. Still a tune.

Jack de Menezes15 June 2016 19:58

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