EURO 2016: France vs Romania

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. 

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

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. 

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/

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. 

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/

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...

How will England do at the Euros?

Last night, England came from 2-0 behind to beat current World Champions Germany 3-2 in their friendly match ahead of the European Championships. 

Roy Hodgson has already hailed the victory as his best night as England manager after his side fought back against the two-goal deficit Germany had created. 

Throughout the match, England put on a good performance but in the first hour of the match, they conceded twice (Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez with the goals) and it looked like the match would be taking a turn that so many England fans have become accustomed to over the years. 

Then, up stepped Harry Kane. Almost one year after making his England debut and scoring after 79 seconds, the man that has proved to everyone he is a big candidate to lead the line in France pulled off a neat Cruyff turn before he drilled the ball into the back of the net at the far post. 

Harry Kane celebrating with Spurs team mate Danny Rose after pulling a goal back for England
Image from: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/germany-vs-england-roy-hodgsons-current-crop-prove-they-can-exceed-failures-of-the-golden-generation-a6954636.html

Jamie Vardy was next up. Hodgson brought him on for Danny Welbeck, who had had a quiet game, and it didn't take the Leicester forward long to make an impact. 

Nathaniel Clyne put a brilliant cross into the box and Vardy confidently flicked his back-heel behind his defender and past Manuel Neuer for his first international goal.

It was one of the new boys in Hodgson's squad that finished the match off though. In the last minute, England had a corner and it was whipped in to Eric Dier who towered above his defender to head the ball past Neuer and claim the victory for England. 

Now, given that Hodgson has claimed he has never been happier with his team, this has just boosted the hopes of many England fans as they carry on their preparation for the Euros. 

A lot of the new players that Hodgson is bringing into the squad look exciting and are giving their manager a lot to think about in the near future. 

One player that certainly showed his worth against Germany was Deli Alli.

The youngster was in the mix throughout the night and for a long time looked like he would be England's biggest threat when going forward.

With the score line at 2-2, Alli had a golden opportunity to get England's third goal, which Dier eventually took. Vardy set him up brilliantly and with an open net in front of him, he hit his shot high over the bar.

Jamie Vardy draaws England level at 2-2 with a beautiful back-heeled flick
Image from: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/germany-vs-england-match-report-harry-kane-and-jamie-vardy-trigger-incredible-fightback-as-eric-dier-a6954626.html

The Leicester players have also made their names known as they fight for their place in the England squad, and once again Vardy made sure to get his name in the headlines.

If he doesn't make the Euros squad, then I know a lot of people will be very shocked. For Leicester, his goals have given them many wins that have helped them to get to the top, and he has just done the same for his country.

His Leicester team mate Danny Drinkwater will most likely make his debut against the Netherlands, and if he does the same as Vardy, then fans can most likely expect him to pull off a great performance.

It isn't the midfield and the strikers that are looking to be a problem though. For England, their main concern at the minute may be their defence. 

Goalkeeper Jack Butland was forced off at the end of the first half with an injury and Fraser Forster put in a good shift when given his chance, but the players in front of him looked shaky.

The partnership between Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling is not yet solid and Germany were able to find pockets of space that exploited them throughout the game.

However, if this is the centre back pairing that Hodgson will stick with, then with time, they will surely work on the stability between the two. 

Out on the flanks, Danny Rose did extremely well on his debut and looked l ready to tackle any problem that came his way, but the shakiness was out on the right side.

On the attack, Clyne was a huge threat and provided the ball that gave England their second goal. Going towards his own net though and he looked unsure with how to deal with his attacker.

England team celebrating Eric Dier's injury time winner against the World Champions
Image from: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/germany-vs-england-roy-hodgsons-current-crop-prove-they-can-exceed-failures-of-the-golden-generation-a6954636.html

For now though, I think that England fans have every right to remain optimistic, but more information about the team will surely come out when they play the rest of the warm-up games, which will hopefully give Hodgson time to fix any problems there may be.

England's next game is against the Netherlands at Wembley on March 29.