France 4-1 Albania: Griezmann penalty miss matters little as Coman leads the way in Paris
Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty against Albania, but it mattered little as Kingsley Coman inspired France to a 4-1 victory in Paris.
Kingsley Coman scored twice as France's march towards Euro 2020 qualification continued with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Albania.
Antoine Griezmann's penalty miss was all that marred a dominant display from the world champions, who were without Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba in Paris.
Coman's second international goal got France up and running in the eighth minute, with Olivier Giroud doubling the hosts' lead prior to the half-hour.
Griezmann failed to convert an international spot-kick for the first time soon after, but made amends with a sublime assist for Coman to double his tally midway through the second half.
Substitute Jonathan Ikone helped himself to a debut goal late on, as Didier Deschamp's side – who conceded through Sokol Cikalleshi's penalty late on – moved back to the top Group H in style.
Albania's dismal night began before kick-off, with the Andorran anthem aired on the Stade de France tannoy instead of that of the visitors.
France were quick to compound Albania's frustration – Coman prodding in after latching onto Raphael Varane's exceptional through ball.
Giroud should have made it two with a close-range header four minutes later, but he made no mistake with his next chance, sweeping home from Lucas Hernandez's cross.
Mergim Mavraj's foul on Hernandez handed France a chance to make it 3-0, but Griezmann's spot-kick crashed off the crossbar.
Ardian Ismajli made a last-ditch block from Thomas Lemar's effort after the restart, while Thomas Strakosha frustrated Griezmann.
But Griezmann found a way through Albania's defence again in the 68th minute – drilling an exquisite cross into Coman, who finished excellently on the turn.
There was time for more action, with Nabil Fekir playing in his fellow substitute Ikone for a debut goal, before Cikalleshi snatched a consolation following Hugo Lloris' foul.