Kaçe free-kick gives Albania win against France
Saturday, June 13, 2015
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Albania 1-0 France
Ergys Kaçe's free-kick proved enough for Albania to beat the UEFA EURO 2016 hosts for the first time in Tirana.
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• Albania secure first ever victory against France thanks to Ergys Kaçe's free-kick
• France are beaten two games in a row for the first time since 2013
• France lost previous friendly 4-3 at home to Belgium last Sunday
• Next games: France v Serbia (4 September, friendly), Denmark v Albania (4 September, qualifier)
Albania claimed their first ever win against France as Ergys Kaçe's free-kick proved enough to defeat the UEFA EURO 2016 hosts in Tirana.
Didier Deschamps made seven changes to the starting lineup that had lost 4-3 at home to Belgium last Sunday but in the first half it was Albania who were on top. Stade Rennais FC player Ermir Lenjani missed from close range and was then denied by France captain Hugo Lloris. However, the Tottenham Hotspur FC goalkeeper could do nothing a few minutes later to prevent Kaçe's fierce free-kick from 20 metres penetrating the top corner.
Nabil Fekir and Paul Pogba, both pre-match doubts, were brought on in the second period but the only real threats to Etrit Berisha's goal were a header from Olivier Giroud and a strike by Mathieu Valbuena. Having beaten France for the first time in their six meetings, Albania will approach their qualifying Group I trip to Denmark on 4 September in good heart as they seek a first final tournament appearance.
