euro 2016 group A - Historical Football Kits

Euros 2016 Group A

euro 2016 logo As hosts, France were seeded in Group A along with debutantes Albania who finished as runners-up in the qualifying group, ahead of Denmark and Serbia. France was still in a state of emergency following last year's terrorist attacks and in the weeks leading up to the tournament had endured strikes, floods, race rows and scandals so the population was looking to their team to lift the national spirits.

The match between Albania and Switzerland had special significance: ten members of the Albanian squad were born or grew up in Switzerland, their families having taken refuge there during the troubles affecting the Balkans. Granit Xhaka lined up for the Swiss while his elder brother, Taulant, was in Albania's midfield.

European Championships Index

France

Romania

France 2 Romania 1

Stade de France, Saint-Denis
10 June

With 90 minutes nearly up the match seemed set for a draw. Romania had been good value and deserved their equaliser, scored by Stancu from the penalty spot in the 65th minute. In a dramatic finale, Dimitri Payet scored a stunner. When he was substituted in injury time tears rolled down his cheeks as the stadium rose to acclaim his performance.

Albania

Switzerland

Albania 0 Switzerland 1

Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens
11 June

In the fifth minute Fabian Schär headed into an empty net after the Albanian goalkeeper missed a corner in the fifth minute. Twenty-five minutes later Albania's captain, Cana, was sent off, leaving them with a mountain to climb.

Romania

Switzerland

Romania 1 Switzerland 1

Parc des Princes, Paris
15 June

Poor finishing cost Switzerland dearly: they had fallen behind to a penalty in the 18th minute but Mehmedi levelled the score ten minutes after the break, hammering the ball home from 15 yards from a corner kick. However, despite their superiority, the Swiss wasted too many chances and the Romanians were satisfied not to have lost.

France

Albania

France 2 Albania 0

Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
15 June

This was a difficult night for the French, who could not have left it any later to take the points. Albania defended with determination and might have even snatched a goal on the break. As full-time approached, they thought they had done enough to take a point but in the 90th minute, Antoine Griezmann nodded a cross into the net from close range when he was left inexplicably unmarked. Finally, in the fifth minute of injury time, Payet whipped the ball into the far corner.

Switzerland

France

Switzerland 0 France 0

Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
19 June

France had already qualified and the Swiss only needed a point to secure first place, so this game had goal less draw written all over it. The French hit the woodwork three times but the game was otherwise mediocre. Due to an obscure UEFA rule, (8.05) "both sleeves must be identical in terms of colour and appearance...except for hooped, banded, striped and checkered shirts" so an alternative kit was organised. Someone really should have spotted this.

(Andrew Mihaleff)

Romania

Albania

Romania 0 Albania 1

Stade des Lumières, Lyon
19 June

A headed goal by Sadiku two minutes before the interval was sufficient to give Albania their first ever win in tournament football. Whether they would progress to the knock-out stages would depend on results elsewhere but Romania were eliminated.