France is looking for a vastly improved performance in Tuesday’s European Championship qualifier in Romania after an unconvincing win in Albania.

The 2000 European champion beat Albania 2-1 on Friday to top Group D with 16 points, three clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“We have increased our chances of qualifying by winning in Tirana,” France midfielder Alou Diarra said. “We have our destiny in our own hands. If we win our remaining matches, we will retain the top spot.”
France would be in a commanding position with a victory in Bucharest as it then hosts Albania and Bosnia in October’s last two qualifiers.

Romania is in fourth place with 11 points and is still undefeated at home in this qualifying campaign. It beat Bosnia-Herzegovina and Luxembourg and drew with Albania.

“We want to finish in first place,” France defender Eric Abidal said. “We expect a tough match in Romania. Romania plays a bit better than Albania. It will be up to us to raise our game.”

France is unbeaten in its last 12 matches but a shaky defensive performance in Tirana combined with an erratic attack have raised questions about the team’s competitiveness.

“Albania put more pressure in the second half and we lost a bit of our serenity and technical edge,” France coach Laurent Blanc said.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila scored to give France a 2-0 lead at halftime. But Albania forward Erjon Bogdani pulled one back at the restart.

“There was a moment of hesitation and panic after the (Albanian) goal,” Benzema said. “But we gave nothing away. We showed solidarity and we managed to preserve the win.”

The French defense mostly suffered from a lack of understanding between Abidal and Tottenham centerback Younes Kaboul.

Abidal and Kaboul only played three matches together before the qualifier in Albania.

Adil Rami and Philippe Mexes usually anchor the defense but AC Milan centerback Mexes is recovering from a knee injury while Rami was serving a one-match suspension.

Blanc could drop Kaboul to the bench and start Rami at center back as the Valencia defender will be available again for the Romania match.

Romania will be a more serious test for the French defense than Albania. Romania will rely on Schalke forward Ciprian Marica and Udinese winger Gabriel Torje to trouble France.

Torje scored twice in Romania’s 2-0 win over Luxembourg on Friday.

Another concern for Blanc is France’s erratic attack.

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda and new Manchester City signing Samir Nasri keep underperforming with the national team.

Nasri has scored only two goals in 24 appearances while Malouda, who played on the right wing in Albania, has made clear he’d rather play on the left flank currently occupied by Franck Ribery.

Blanc could start Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin or Marseille winger Mathieu Valbuena to energize his attack.

Martin netted twice and had an assist in France’s 4-1 win over Ukraine in June.

Also on Tuesday, Bosnia hosts Belarus while Albania visits Luxembourg.

Belarus is in third place with 12 points and will miss again through injury Aleksandr Yurevich, Vitali Rodionov, Alexander Hleb, Yan Tigorev, Anton Amelchenko, Dmitri Molosh and Vitali Kutuzov.

Bosnia beat Belarus 2-0 Friday in Minsk with goals from Sejad Salihovic and Haris Medunjanin.