France vs. Albania: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
France take on Albania in an international friendly in Rennes on Friday with the visitors returning to action for the first time since their controversial Euro 2016 qualifier with Serbia ended in chaos last month.
As hosts of the the tournament in two years' time, France are not required to qualify and thus continue their string of friendlies which saw them beat Armenia 3-0 last time out.
Albania will provide Didier Deschamps' men with a significant challenge at the Stade de la Route de Lorient having recently beaten Portugal in their qualifying campaign.
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Read on for all scheduling, television and live-streaming details ahead of Friday's international friendly.
Date: Friday, November 14
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. ET
TV Info: Fox Soccer (US only)
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go
Preview
Albania will be looking to put events in Belgrade last month behind them when they face France after they were forced to flee from the pitch just before half-time in their match against Serbia.
They were subsequently handed a 3-0 loss for the match by UEFA but still sit second in Group I after their opponents were docked three points for their part, per Owen Gibson in The Guardian.
Albania boss Gianni De Biasi will no doubt see the France match as an opportunity to respond on the pitch and return to previous form ahead of another friendly against Italy on Tuesday, with their next qualifier not until March.
A respectable draw with Denmark followed an historic 1-0 away win over Portugal at the start of their Euro qualifying campaign, courtesy of Bekim Balaj's fantastic strike, per Football Vines:
"What a goal by Balaj. Portugal 0-1 Albania https://t.co/SxosmNaOSD
— Football Vines (@FootballVines) September 7, 2014"
That result shows that De Biasi has a side which can be a threat to most teams but Balaj will be key as he will have to take advantage of any chances his side get with Albania looking to take advantage of any counter-attacks.
Centre-back pairing Mergim Mavraj and Lorik Cana must put in a fine display as a clean sheet would be a fantastic result for the visitors.
However, France are undoubtedly favourites for Friday's encounter given the wealth of talent in their squad.
As Ligue 1 journalist Jonathan Johnson reports, Deschamps will be without Paris St-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who has an injured hand:
However, in the likes of Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema, France have an enviable spine in a high-quality side.
They showed at the summer's World Cup—where they reached the quarter-finals—that they are a force to be reckoned with and they should have the measure of Albania.
Benzema should be key to unlocking the visitors, who are likely to sit back and pack the midfield, with the Real Madrid star in fantastic form currently, per WhoScored.com:
There is often a perceived problem for hosts in preparation for their tournaments that—as they do not have to qualify—they do not face enough competitive action.
However, Deschamps will no doubt instil in his players a drive to win as many games as possible and they have yet to lose since the World Cup with victories over Portugal and Spain adding to the Armenia win.
They also face Sweden at home on Tuesday but they must not underestimate Albania in Rennes. If they play to their potential, it should be an easy victory but complacency must not creep into France's game otherwise they may be punished.
