The 2016 European Championship started yesterday [Friday, June 10] and France beat Romania in a tightly contested match, 2-1.
The tension surrounding the host French team was palpable throughout the game, but France prevailed behind a wonderful goal from one of their newest stars, Dimitri Payet.
Romania came out with a high energy level and pressed heavily up the field for most of the game, not allowing the skilled French team to create too many chances. Olivier Giroud had two chances in the first half, but couldn’t finish them off.
Early in the second half, Giroud made up for those missed chances when he slotted a header home, off a cross from Payet. The tension lifted in the stadium, only to come back twofold after France conceded a penalty in the 65th minute. Bogdan Stancu calmly converted the penalty to tie the game up at 1-1.
Romania continued to grind against France, with their organized team defense repelling France until the 89th minute, when Dimitri Payet hit a special shot that found the upper-left corner of the goal.
STUNNING! Payet shifts the ball onto his left foot and picks out the top corner from 25 metres. #EURO2016 #FRAROU #FRA
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/CopaEURO2016/status/741379136086773760
Payet was soon substituted so that he could receive a standing ovation, and the breakout star from the 2015-16 season was brought to tears as he jogged off the field.
https://twitter.com/6SecondFutbol/status/741378461449621505
The tournament continues today with more games, including England vs. Russia at 3pm EST on ESPN.