Euro 2016 France vs Romania Highlights: Dimitri Payet Stunner Hands France 2-1 Win Over Romania

Fortune has always smiled on France at home. As tournament hosts, the Les Bleus won the Euro in 1984 and the FIFA World Cup in 1998. Having won their last four internationals, France started as favourites and maintained the tag at the end of regulation period to win the Euro 2016 opener against Romania. Get all highlights of the FRA vs ROM match here. (SCORECARD | SCHEDULE | STANDINGS | STREAMING INFO | NEWS)

02:36 hrs IST: So that is all from us tonight. Join us again tomorrow when we have three matches of Euro 2016. The fever has just begun.

France forward Dimitri Payet (R) celebrates after scoring winning goal against Romania in the Euro 2016 Group A opener at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday night.

© AFP

02:33 hrs IST: And that goal also brings in some praise from a legend.

Payet just let people know he is a game changer on the big stage....wonder strike! #euro2016

- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 10, 2016

02:29 hrs IST: You cannot get enough of that goal can you?

STUNNING! Payet shifts the ball onto his left foot and picks out the top corner from 25 metres. #EURO2016 #FRAROU #FRA

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

02:26 hrs IST: And that is it, that Payet goal did it! France have won the opening Group A fixture of Euro 2016.

02:23 hrs IST: Three minutes of added time!

02:22 hrs IST: And he has been substituted cleverly by manager Deschamps!

02:20 hrs IST: Two attempts from Payet, one on target, one in goal!

02:19 hrs IST: That is one of the best goals you will see!

02:17 hrs IST: STUNNER! Just what the doctor ordered! Payet has scored for France in the 89th minute!

02:14 hrs IST: Only a few minutes to go before the end otherwise this opener is likely to head for a draw!

02:11 hrs IST: Martial in action immediately after coming off the bench and his kick goes straight to the keeper.

02:08 hrs IST: Pogba has been substituted with Anthony Martial

02:06 hrs IST: Giroud gets booked! Gets a yellow!

02:05 hrs IST: We are back to square one.

France celebrations halted by Romania's swift reply. Just 7 mins between the goals. #EURO2016 #FRAROU pic.twitter.com/1lsCYPkTVV

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

02:02 hrs IST: Stancu Stepped up and he made sure that Romania score and level the game in the 65th minute after scoring from the spot

GOAL! France 1-1 Romania (Stancu 65) #EURO2016 #FRAROU pic.twitter.com/sq5T2tLogQ

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

02:00 hrs IST: Stanciu, heading for the goal was clipped by Evra in the box and the referee awarded a penalty immediately.

01:58 hrs IST: Let us go through that again!

01:57 hrs IST: Stancu has scored from the penalty! It is 1-1!

01:56 hrs IST: Oh my is that a penalty!

01:55 hrs IST: The pass had come from Payet and Giroud laid the finishing touches!

01:53 hrs IST: Romania immediately retaliate with a corner but not successful!

01:51 hrs IST: Well it was bound to happen but the question was when and Giroud's 58th minute header has given France what they wanted in the Euro 2016 opener!

01:50 hrs IST: GIROUD has scored! Brilliant header and France are ahead 1-0 to the joy of the home crowd!

01:49 hrs IST: POGBAAAAAA! Oh he almost put it in! Fantastic kick and that ball hit the leg of the keeper!

01:48 hrs IST: Couple of chances for both

01:44 hrs IST: Giroud!!! Close but straight to the keeper!

01:42 hrs IST: Though their accuracy is less, France have made almost twice the number of passes Romania have made.

01:39 hrs IST: Stancu had chested that perfectly but could not balance and the kick went wide!

01:38 hrs IST: Chance for Stancu................ and he misses it!

01:35 hrs IST: The two teams are stepping out once again to the pitch of Stade de France

01:30 hrs IST: We still do not have answer to that, do we?

Giroud goes close for #FRA
Who's scoring first? #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/Mu5UpOf6Bb

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

01:25 hrs IST: Take a break. We will be back in some time for the second half.

01:24 hrs IST: Romania's Razvan Rat was the second booking (yellow) for the evening at the stroke of half-time

01:22 hrs IST: Romania have managed to keep France goal-less in the first half of this Euro 2016 opener at Stade de France

01:20 hrs IST: It is half time!

01:17 hrs IST: But the header goes above the crossbar

01:14 hrs IST: Corner for France

01:11 hrs IST: France are creating the chances but the finishing touch is missing.

01:07 hrs IST: The home fans are chanting "Allez les Bleus, allez les Bleus!"

01:04 hrs IST: That's a yellow! The first booking of Euro 2016 for Romania's Vlad Chiriches. That was a poor challenge from him

00:59 hrs IST: Like the Champions League final between Atletico and Real Madrid, Griezmann was close again tonight.

The moment @AntoGriezmann has been dreaming about. Almost...#EURO2016 #FRAROU pic.twitter.com/X8mXCBj3Zk

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

00:58 hrs IST: No is the answer

00:56 hrs IST: There is a chance, can France convert it?

00:52 hrs IST: This is quite a livid crowd and they are enjoying every second of the action

00:48 hrs IST: France are enjoying more than 60 percent of possession at present!

00:44 hrs IST: France are slowly beginning to settle down.

00:41 hrs IST: Big scare early on for France! Romania almost put the ball in, in the early minutes!

00:37 hrs IST: Ball stays out!

00:036 hrs IST: Goal oh no! Just out! That was close and another corner, this time from the other side!

00:35 hrs IST: This is quite an exciting start!

00:32 hrs IST: It is time! Euro 2016 is underway!

00:31 hrs IST: The national anthems are being sung. This is the scene out there!

It's game time. #EURO2016#FRAROU pic.twitter.com/wP9mdRUI3q

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

00:30 hrs IST: Both the teams have come out on to the field!

00:28 hrs IST: Wow! Some French jets just flew above the stadium displaying the French national flag colours! Just beautiful!

00:25 hrs IST: And look who has come to view the match!

Here in the stadium ready for the opening game of #EURO2016 ?????? pic.twitter.com/VMOM1kW5YF

- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 10, 2016

00:20 hrs IST: The stadium is full, isn't it?

These are special nights. #EURO2016

Are you #FRA or #ROU? #FRAROU pic.twitter.com/CH4iPoP6lK

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

00:17 hrs IST: And the opening ceremony begins in the Paris commune!

00:15 hrs IST: Are the German players worried about playing in France? Read here.

00:10 hrs IST: A very interesting read.

00:05 hrs IST: Will he make it count tonight?

All eyes on Paul Pogba #EURO2016#FRAROU pic.twitter.com/V7CQifizUb

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

00:00 hrs IST: And here are the line-ups.

The lineups are in... #EURO2016 #FRAROU pic.twitter.com/0TKOwdAFJh

- UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) June 10, 2016

23:55 hrs IST: Romania however have never progressed out of the group stages the four times they have played in the tournament

23:50 hrs IST: On the other hand this will be Romani's fifth appearance at Euro, the last time being in 2008.

23:45 hrs IST: Just a few more facts and figures for all you reading out there. France are two time champions of the event, having won in 1984 and 2000 -- making them the third most successful team in Europe behind Germany and Spain who have clinched the coveted title thrice each.

23:42 hrs IST: Things are not fine in France at the moment. From security concerns to floods to strikes. But will the beautiful game bring cheer to the people? Read more.

23:37 hrs IST: And here is a story about the 1998 Euro winner -- Zinedine Zidane who is currently in India.

23:33 hrs IST: In the opener hosts France will take on Romania at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

23:30 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the opening match of the UEFA Euro 2016.

France will take on Romania in the Euro 2016 opening match.

© AP

The France vs Romania match will boil down to a contest between French strikers and Romanian defenders. Coach Anghel Iordanescu's Romania conceded just twice in 10 matches in qualifying behind Northern Ireland in Group F and also held European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in March.

Didier Deschamps' France have been in fine form, winning nine of their last 10 matches over the past year with their only defeat coming to England when minds were focused elsewhere just days after the November Paris terror attacks.

French expectations are high from a team boasting of precocious young talents like Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Antoine Griezmann (fresh from a 32-goal season with Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid).

Stats and history side with France. Romania's last victory vs France was in April 1972. They won a friendly in Bucharest 2-0.

France are unbeaten in their last 10 games versus Romania. Four of their last five encounters have ended in draws. Two-time (1984 and 2000) Euro champions France are playing their ninth Euro championship finals.

Romania have never won their opening game at the Euros.