Didier Deschamps didn't include Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann in his starting XI for France against Albania.

“I know he is not happy, nor is Paul Pogba,” said Deschamps. “Paul Pogba was more of a tactical decision. With that system I thought we needed two real scrappers in the middle of the park. Paul has different attributes. As for Griezmann, I am managing him. He is doing well but he had a busy season and we have three games in nine days. He made the difference even though I know he would have preferred to have started the game.”

Pogba came on in the match at halftime.

Deschamps has varied his attack in France’s two games, starting with one set and ending with another, and he sees that as one of the team’s strengths. “I have solutions on the bench in order to change the performance. In games against a tight defence you need to wear them down. We kept pushing right to the end. We did everything we could, in any case.”