Dimitri Payet’s stunning 25-metre strike a minute from time got hosts France off to a winning start at Euro 2016 yesterday as they beat Romania 2-1.
Payet was France’s standout performer all night. His cross also created the opener for Olivier Giroud before Bogdan Stancu’s penalty looked to have handed Romania a point.
However, the mercurial West Ham playmaker produced a moment of brilliance as he smashed the ball into the top corner to ensure France’s month-long festival of football got off to a flier.
“We had trouble getting out of the blocks,” French coach Didier Deschamps said.
“But it’s good to get the first game out of the way and to win,” he added.


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