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Dimitri Payet scored a dramatic late winner as France opened their Euro 2016 campaign with a 2-1 win over Romania at the Stade de France.
Payet, who was the star the of tournament’s opening night, fired a swerving left-footed shot into the top corner with just two minutes remaining.
Olivier Giroud had earlier opened the scoring for France before Romania equalised through a Bogdan Stancu penalty.
Both sides had chances early in a quiet opening period as Hugo Lloris saved at close-range from Stancu and Antoine Griezmann headed against the post for the host nation.
Arsenal striker Giroud wasted three good chances inside ten yards before finally finding the net just before the hour mark.
Griezmann went close again before the break when he steered Payet’s fierce low cross towards goal. The ball deflected wide off Cristian Sapunaru’s boot, but the officials missed the defender’s touch.
Romanian keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu came to collect Payet’s hanging cross and got nowhere near it as Giroud shouldered him out of the way and glanced the ball into the net.
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The lead didn't last long as Patrice Evra challenged Nicolae Stanciu with the wrong leg and Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai pointed to the spot. Stancu kept his nerve and struck the penalty past Lloris.
It looked like Romania would hold out for a deserved point until Payet's dramatic late intervention.
"Romania made it difficult for us and it took us time to get into the game especially as there was a lot of emotion," he said.
"To be here tonight and score is the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices. I wouldn't have thought at the start of the season that I'd be here, there was some pressure on arriving at the stadium but I came to enjoy myself."
France coach Didier Deschamps was relieved to get the win and paid tribute to the matchwinner Payet.
"It's good to have won," he told Uefa.com. "Romania aren't easy to play against - and we knew that. They give away a lot of fouls and defend well. We had chances but we gave them a few as well.
"We had a bit of trouble letting our hair down but we got our reward in the end. I made sure we played to win, with four attacking players on the pitch at the end. Given the context, an opening match is never easy.
"It was a tricky game, made complicated by Romania. The opening match of a tournament is a bit like playing a cup final, so perhaps we were a little timid. We ground out a victory, we put four attacking players on the pitch, and it was a wonderful goal from Dimitri Payet.
"Not everything was perfect, far from it. Romania showed they are well organised and they caused us a lot of problems, but it's very important to start with a victory.
"Payet made the difference today. He's an attacking player but he's also someone who helps out the team. It's quite easy in football when you can bang it in the top corner - it solves quite a lot of problems!"
Didi Hamann and Eamon Dunphy discuss a thrilling opening game at Euro 2016. #rtesoccer https://t.co/6EHraYlIqh
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 10, 2016
Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu was impressed with his side despite the defeat and revealed the players were disappointed to have lost so late in the game.
He said: "We started the first half in excellent fashion and had a rare opportunity that the keeper was able to keep out. If we'd scored, that would have changed the whole match. At the start of the second period we got into their area a lot and unfortunately [Bogdan] Stancu missed another chance.
"I'd like to congratulate my players for having implemented all the tactical instructions I gave them. I thank them for the quality of their play despite the fact we lost. It really hurts to lose in the 89th minute but it was a fabulous strike from a wonderful player.
"If you'd been in the dressing room you'd have seen just how disappointed the players were. It will be difficult to rekindle the players' form and fitness because they're exhausted."
