A late Dimitri Payet wonder-goal gave France a 2-1 win over Romania in the opening Euro 2016 match yesterday evening.
With Les Bleu looking likely to be only claiming a point thanks to an anxiety filled performance full of stops and starts, the West Ham playmaker’s genius has no doubt lifted the spirits of the tournament favourites in the blink of an eye.
What with the squads number of talented attacking players, France clearly wanted to give their ailing country a quick lift from the first whistle, however a stubborn Romania, often pushing them high up the pitch, had other ideas.
France had led through a 58th minute Olivier Giroud header, with the Arsenal striker capitalising on some reckless goalkeeping via Tatarusanu on a cross. Whilst the goal lifted the often maligned striker, the jury is still out on the French hitman in the eyes of French fans however after numerous chances were missed. The Romania team proved tough and rigid performers throughout, they deservedly equalised minutes later through Bogdan Stancu’s penalty, awarded following a reckless Patrice Evra challenge.
With seconds remaining on the clock, and glum faces all round, up stepped the mercurial Payet to deliver possibly the tournaments best goal.
Here’s some short highlights…
Giroud’s opener…
Romania’s Stade de France silencing equaliser.
And the Dimitri Payet’s absolute humdinger of a winner…
Tw RT iFootballPlanet: WHAT. A. GOAL. pic.twitter.com/NLrVi0ekLe
— Nimmi (@nimmijohn1) June 10, 2016