Paul Pogba player of the day, but France seem confused despite unbeaten run: Euro 2016 talking points

Every match day during Euro 2016, The National’s Premier League correspondent Greg Lea will break down every match and its key moments. Here is his analysis of Sunday's action in the tournament.

France midfielder Paul Pogba had a brilliant first half against Switzerland on Sunday night. Franck Fife / AFP

France 0-0 Switzerland: Pair progress after goalless draw

Three games played, seven points collected and through to the knockout stage of the European Championship in first place. On the face of it, everything looks positive for France at present, but there are in fact a number of things for the host nation to be concerned about.

For starters, it is still not clear what Didier Deschamps’s first-choice XI is, with the former Marseille manager reverting back to a 4-3-3 formation after employing a 4-2-3-1 against Albania last time out.

Olivier Giroud had been heavily criticised for his performance in that match but Andre-Pierre Gignac was even more ineffectual here, with Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann returning to the line-up after being controversially dropped for France’s second outing.

The group stage was supposed to be a chance for the hosts to develop coherence with a settled side having gone two years without fulfilling any competitive fixtures, but it feels as though France are even further away from knowing their strongest team now than they were before the Euros kicked-off 10 days ago.

France created the better chances against Switzerland in Lille and a draw – which guaranteed them top spot in Group A – was far from a bad result.

Question marks remain, though, and the pre-tournament favourites are yet to really convince ahead of the start of the knockout rounds on Saturday.

Romania 0-1 Albania: Sadiku keeps qualification hopes alive

Albania will have to wait and see whether their tally of three points will be enough for them to progress to the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed sides, but for now they can celebrate their first ever triumph at a European Championship.

This was a well-deserved victory for Gianni de Biasi and his players, who started the game nervously but ultimately did brilliantly to hold out after taking the lead in the 43rd minute.

Their defending was often of the backs-to-the-wall variety, but while Albania do lack a touch of quality there can be no doubting their commitment, togetherness, work ethic or organisation.

Content to cede possession and sit back in their tight defensive shape, they repelled Romania time and time again while carrying a considerable threat of their own at the other end of the pitch.

Indeed, despite having much less of the ball, Albania created the better goalscoring opportunities and had much more of a cutting edge in the final third.

Whether or not this victory turns out to be enough for a spot in the first knockout round remains to be seen, but Albania can be proud of their efforts in France regardless.

Player of the day

Paul Pogba. The France midfielder may have faded in the second half but he really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the first, when he was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet.

Goal of the day

By default, Armando Sidiku’s header for Albania takes the prize. It was his country’s first ever goal at an international competition.

Decision of the day

Switzerland were much improved with Breel Embolo rather than Haris Seferovic at the point of their attack, which could prompt boss Vladimir Petkovic to stick with the teenager in the round of 16.

Howler of the day

Ciprian Tatarusanu has flapped at crosses throughout Euro 2016, but he did not even get close to the delivery from Ledian Memushaj that led to Armando Sadiku’s match-winning goal. The Fiorentina goalkeeper would have caught the header comfortably had he simply stayed on his line.

Moment of the day

It is not often you see a ball burst in the professional game, but that is exactly what happened when Valon Behrami and Antoine Griezmann raked their studs through it in the first half of Switzerland’s clash with France.

Statistic of the day

Exactly half of the 26 matches played at Euro 2016 so far have been goalless at half time.

Thing to look forward to

Assuming England beat Slovakia as expected, Russia vs Wales is a straight shootout for second place in Group B.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport