Group A: Switzerland v France, 11pm (UAE time)
France midfielder Paul Pogba can look forward to a return to the starting XI against Switzerland, along with Antoine Griezmann, who came off the bench to score the crucial opening goal during their win over Albania.
With N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud both at risk of suspension, Yohan Cabaye and Andre-Pierre Gignac could come into the team as well, with Deschamps expected to revert to a 4-3-3 formation.
Matt Smith: Blessed with likes of Pogba and Payet, France's talent belied by performances
Deschamps will be keen for France to avoid a repeat of the fate that befell them at Euro 2012, when, under Laurent Blanc, a 2-0 loss to Sweden in their last group game condemned ‘Les Bleus’ to a quarter-final encounter with eventual champions Spain.
With France two points clear of second-place Switzerland, a draw will guarantee them top spot in the group and with it a last-16 tie against the third-place team in Group C, D or E.
France won 5-2 when the teams last met in the Brazilian city of Salvador during the 2014 World Cup, a victory that sparked their tournament into life, and Deschamps will hope Sunday’s game proves a similar catalyst.
Having had to wait until the 89th minute to take the lead against Romania and the 90th minute to go in front against Albania, France are yet to produce a display worthy of their pre-tournament status as potential champions.
Seizing on the Pogba celebration controversy, Switzerland’s official Twitter account wrote on Friday: “Hey France, Pogba’s not your problem. WE are your problem!”
Vladimir Petkovic’s side beat Albania 1-0 in their opening game before drawing 1-1 with Romania and require only a point to secure one of the two automatic qualifying positions.
But Admir Mehmedi, who scored Switzerland’s equaliser against Romania in Paris, said: “We want to win, that’s clear. We won’t be happy just to play for a draw.”
Influential Watford midfielder Valon Behrami could miss out, though, as he is nursing a knee problem.
Group A: Romania v Albania, 11pm
After a couple of solid defensive performances in defeats by Switzerland and France, Albania need to discover some scoring form against Romania, their Italian coach Gianni de Biasi said ahead of Sunday’s vital Euro 2016 fixture.
The Albanians held their own for long spells in the opening 1-0 loss to the Swiss and conceded late goals in a 2-0 reverse against hosts France, but they created precious little up front in either match.
The Romanians also need to win the do-or-die fixture in Lyon to keep alive any hopes of progressing after a fortuitous 1-1 draw against the Swiss which followed a 2-1 defeat by France.
“I believe we can qualify,” De Biasi said as his team, who are at their first major tournament, prepared for what Romania striker Florin Andone described as a matter of “life and death”.
“I think that if we are able to score the goals that we haven’t against Switzerland and France then we could get the three points that may get us into the knockout rounds,” De Biasi said.
De Biasi, 60, acknowledged that Albania needed to avoid lapses in concentration which cost them dearly in both defeats.
Of the loss to France in Marseille, he said: “My team resisted right until the end but we didn’t defend throughout, especially in the first half and at the start of the second.
“When you don’t take your chances and score goals, you don’t get big results. My team held up pretty well and we’re disappointed to concede a goal a minute from the end.”
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