France secured the first three points of Euro 2016 after a late wonder goal rounded off Dimitri Payet's brilliant game for the hosts against Romania.
As the hosts, France haven't had to play a competitive match since the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, meaning they now had the chance to show their fans they could still perform under pressure.
Blaise Matuidi took it upon himself to have an early, optimistic chance in the hopes of settling the crowd. His shot was on target and it was a fairly easy chance for Ciprian Tatarusanu to deal with after he initially spilled it.
It was Romania who registered the best chance of the first half though not long after. A corner soared over the crowd of players to Bogdan Stancu at the far post and he hit the shot first time from close range, but Hugo Lloris made a brilliant instinct save to deny him.
The first of a hat-trick of chances for Olivier Giroud came on the 10 minute mark when Payet floated a cross into the box. The forward rose for the header and his shot was just inches wide of the near post.
Minutes later, Antoine Griezmann registered France's best chance of the half. Bacary Sagna is left in space down the right he quickly threaded the ball to Griezmann. It took him two attempts to reach the ball; he saw his second, a header from close range, rebound off the post.
France were easily the most dominant team throughout the game, but they struggled to get a sight of goal even with all their possession of the ball.
The first half ended with the second of Giroud's great chances which followed another brilliant delivery from Payet. He had another header from the centre of the box, but this time he couldn't keep his shot down and it's just over the crossbar.
Romania started the second half, the same way they did the first: strongly. Nicolae Stanciu floats a ball into the box and finds Stancu in a lot of space. He had time to chest the ball down and try for the volley, but he was unbalanced as he hit the shot and his shot was just off target.
It didn't take long for France to get back into their stride as Payet showed the rest of Europe what he can really do. He once again set up a Giroud chance and the forward this time hit his shot on target, but it was straight down the centre at the keeper.
And then Giroud finally got his goal. Once again, Payet put a brilliant cross into the box and Giroud rose high to beat Tatarusanu to the ball and flick the ball into the back of the net to score the first goal of the tournament.
It all seemed to be going to plan as France kept pressure on Romania with a couple of half chances and the domination of possession, but it didn't take long for their opponents to get back into the game.
Stanciu made a dangerous run into the box and got to the ball before Patrice Evra. The left-back couldn't match his opponent so stuck his leg out and tripped Stanciu, giving away a penalty.
Stancu was the player to step up to spot and he opened up his body to side foot the ball calmly into the right side of the net. Lloris looked like he could get to the ball, but swayed to the wrong side as the penalty was taken.
The nervousness from the fans became apparent after the equaliser, but the French players on the field carried on in the same dominant fashion as they had before the goal.
In the final 10 minutes, France started to really chase the winning goal. Substitute Anthony Martial made a darting run into the box and played a one-two with Giroud to open up some space so he could hit his low shot, but it was straight at the keeper.
It wasn't until the last minute that something special happened. Payet rounded off his brilliant game by pulling out all the stops when he received the ball outside the box. He took one touch before swinging at the ball with his laces and the ball swerved before nestling into the back of the net. A wonderful goal that gave the keeper no chance.
France did have one last opportunity in the final moments of the game as they cleared a Romanian corner. Moussa Sissoko was left in acres of space and found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was just wide of the near post.
So, France have shown how well they can perform under the pressure of being the home nation, and some of their players have really shown their worth including the likes of Payet, Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante.
Romania have also shown that they could be a tough opponent to face in the remainder of the group matches as they did trouble France's defence at times in the match.
If the rest of the tournament follows the same principle as the second half as this match though, we could be in for quite a treat...
Blaise Matuidi took it upon himself to have an early, optimistic chance in the hopes of settling the crowd. His shot was on target and it was a fairly easy chance for Ciprian Tatarusanu to deal with after he initially spilled it.
It was Romania who registered the best chance of the first half though not long after. A corner soared over the crowd of players to Bogdan Stancu at the far post and he hit the shot first time from close range, but Hugo Lloris made a brilliant instinct save to deny him.
The first of a hat-trick of chances for Olivier Giroud came on the 10 minute mark when Payet floated a cross into the box. The forward rose for the header and his shot was just inches wide of the near post.
Minutes later, Antoine Griezmann registered France's best chance of the half. Bacary Sagna is left in space down the right he quickly threaded the ball to Griezmann. It took him two attempts to reach the ball; he saw his second, a header from close range, rebound off the post.
France were easily the most dominant team throughout the game, but they struggled to get a sight of goal even with all their possession of the ball.
The first half ended with the second of Giroud's great chances which followed another brilliant delivery from Payet. He had another header from the centre of the box, but this time he couldn't keep his shot down and it's just over the crossbar.
Romania started the second half, the same way they did the first: strongly. Nicolae Stanciu floats a ball into the box and finds Stancu in a lot of space. He had time to chest the ball down and try for the volley, but he was unbalanced as he hit the shot and his shot was just off target.
It didn't take long for France to get back into their stride as Payet showed the rest of Europe what he can really do. He once again set up a Giroud chance and the forward this time hit his shot on target, but it was straight down the centre at the keeper.
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| Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring the first goal of Euro 2016 Image from: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-centre/live-france-win-euro-2016-8044920 |
It all seemed to be going to plan as France kept pressure on Romania with a couple of half chances and the domination of possession, but it didn't take long for their opponents to get back into the game.
Stanciu made a dangerous run into the box and got to the ball before Patrice Evra. The left-back couldn't match his opponent so stuck his leg out and tripped Stanciu, giving away a penalty.
Stancu was the player to step up to spot and he opened up his body to side foot the ball calmly into the right side of the net. Lloris looked like he could get to the ball, but swayed to the wrong side as the penalty was taken.
 |
| Foul by Patrice Evra on Nicolae Stanciu that awarded Romania the penalty Image from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/10/france-vs-romania-euro-2016-live/ |
In the final 10 minutes, France started to really chase the winning goal. Substitute Anthony Martial made a darting run into the box and played a one-two with Giroud to open up some space so he could hit his low shot, but it was straight at the keeper.
It wasn't until the last minute that something special happened. Payet rounded off his brilliant game by pulling out all the stops when he received the ball outside the box. He took one touch before swinging at the ball with his laces and the ball swerved before nestling into the back of the net. A wonderful goal that gave the keeper no chance.
 |
| Dimitri Payet rounds off his man-of-the-match performance with a wonder strike Image from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/10/france-vs-romania-euro-2016-live/ |
So, France have shown how well they can perform under the pressure of being the home nation, and some of their players have really shown their worth including the likes of Payet, Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante.
Romania have also shown that they could be a tough opponent to face in the remainder of the group matches as they did trouble France's defence at times in the match.
If the rest of the tournament follows the same principle as the second half as this match though, we could be in for quite a treat...
