- Harry Manning
- Fri, Jun 10 2016
A stunning Dimitri Payet goal handed UEFA Euro 2016 hosts France, a dramatic opening day win over a stubborn Romania side as the tournament began with a flourish at the Stade de France on Friday night.
After going in front through an Olivier Giroud headed goal, Romania hit back through Bogdan Stancu from the penalty spot after Patrice Evra fouled Nicolae Stanciu inside the area.
However, one minute from time, Payet showed his class and curled an absolute beauty into the top-left corner to give Les Bleus a memorable first win
Romania were inches from a dreamlike start to their campaign when Stanciu’s corner was flicked on by Florin Andone into Stancu but his close-range shot was superbly saved by Hugo Lloris.
From the resulting corner, Andone rose highest but he planted his header onto the roof of the net. An early statement of intent from Romania that they weren’t going to lie down for the tournament hosts.
France came close on the tenth minute mark when Payet fizzled a ball onto the head of Giroud, however, his header flew wide of the mark.
Four minutes later, France really should have been in front. Blaise Matuidi spread a ball into the path of Bacary Sagne who drilled it into the danger zone. It deflected off Vlad Chiriches and bounced into the path of Antoine Griezmann, however, his quick-fire header rocketed off the post.
France enjoyed the better of the possession, however, Romania were well set-up and continued to frustrate Les Bleus with their high pressing, causing France to overestimate passes and give away cheap, loose balls.
On the 27th minute mark, Paul Pogba found a cradle of space outside the area, however his 30 yard strike rose just above the crossbar in what was a decent effort from the Juventus man.
Ten minutes before the break, Griezmann had another glorious opportunity to claim the opening goal of the competition. Payet sent a drove a difficult, low ball into the box which Griezmann hit first-time, however, it took a slight deflection causing it to bend wide of the post.
There was time for one more French chance. Payet whipped a ball onto Giroud’s head, however, again he failed to keep it down and it flew harmlessly over the bar.
The ref blew the half-time whistle shortly after to leave the sides delicately poised at a stalemate where Romania were certainly the happier team heading into the break.
In almost déja vu-like circumstances to the first-half, Romania were inches from breaking the deadlock from their opening attack of the second stanza.
Stancu lofted a crisp ball on to the chest of Stanciu who timed his run to perfection before expertly controlling it with his chest before hitting an acrobat effort which flashed just wide of the mark.
Seven minutes into the restart and Giroud came agonizingly close to finding an opener when he was played through by Payet who cleverly slipped it beneath Chirches foot, however, Giroud’s effort was straight at Tatarusanu.
Two minutes later, Payet displayed a sublime piece of skill to turn inside the box before passing it across for Pogba who powered it on goal, however, Tatarusanu managed to parry it away to safety.
The entire Stade de France could sense a goal was coming and it did so just before the hour mark when Payet whipped a beautiful ball towards the six yard area where Giroud forced his way in front of Tatarusanu to glance the ball home.
However, within ten minutes, Romania decided to tear up the script and pulled a goal back after Evra clinically fouled Stanciu leaving Stancu to step up and slot it into the bottom right corner leaving Lloris with no chance.
France continued to push but struggled to break Romania down who to their credit never stopped working, however, the moment of magic arrived right in the dying embers of the game.
Payet took a touch to set himself up perfectly before smacking the ball which twisted and turned in the air before dipping over Tatarusanu and into the top left corner to give France the monumental victory.
France: Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, Adil Rami, Laurent Koscielny, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba (Anthony Martial 77), N’Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann (Kingsley Coman 66), Olivier Giroud, Dimitri Payet (Moussa Sissoko 91)
Subs not used: Steve Mandanda, Yohan Cabaye, , Benoit Costil, Lucas Digne, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Christophe Jallet, Eliaquim Mangala, Morgan Schneiderlin, , Samuel Umtiti
Bookings: Olivier Giroud (69)
Romania: Ciprian Tatarusanu, Cristian Sapunaru, Vlad Chiriches, Dragos Grigore, Razvan Rat, Nicolae Stanciu (Alexandru Chipciu 72), Ovidiu Hoban, Mihai Pintilli, Adrian Popa (Gabriel Torje 82), Florin Andone (Denis Alibec 61), Bogdan Stancu
Subs not used: Costel Pantilmon, Silviu Lung Jr, Alexandru Matel, Cosmin Moti, Andrei Prepelita, Lucian Sanmartean, , Claudiu Keseru, Valerica Gaman, Steliano Filip,
Bookings: Vlad Chiriches (32), Razvan Rat (45), Adrian Popa (78)
Referee: Viktor Kassai
Attendance: 81,338
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dimitri Payet (France)
You can see Al Robinson's pictures from the game here.
