France opened Euro 2016 tournament on a high with crucial 2-1 victory over Romania at the Stade de France , Friday evening.

Dimitriv Payet secured the match winner for the host after Stancu's penalty cancelled an Olivier Giroud opener.

It was a crucial victory for the host and on the night when leaders were said to be in short supply for the young Le Bleus team, Payet stood tall with a breathtaking strike on the stroke of full time.

France were desperate for a win to impress but it was the visitors who came close to scoring in the fourth minute. Hugo Lloris had to pull off an instinctive save to deny Romania an early goal from close range.

Surviving the early scare, the host lifted up their game with Paul Pogba and Payet dictating the pace in midfield.

Olivier Giroud had the opportunity to open the France account but his header in the 11th minute wnt agonizingly wide. Three minutes later, it was Antoinne Griezmann who would miss another opportunity. The dimunitive striker had his rebound header hitting the post from close range. He had, seconds earlier, failed to connect a perfectly whipped cross on the right by Sagna but the Romanian defence men failed to clear their lines, and offered Griezmann another opportunity at goal but he failed to convert with his head.

The Athletico Madrid striker again missed another opportunity in the 35th minute when his deft touch from a Sagna cross whisked just wide. It was not going to be the day of the Athletico short man and it was not surprising he was taken off by Didier Dechamps.

The game never lacked pace, skill or drama but it did lack goals in the first half. In the second half, it was Romania who again declared their intention to score. 

Stancu needed a cool head and a clinical finish to put Romania ahead in the 46th minute but those qualities eluded him when he needed them most.

Played through with a superb cross, Stancu controlled well on his chest but attempted a flamboyant kick which embarrassingly strolled past the line for a goal kick.

In the 58th minute, Olivier Giroud set the stadium alive with a thumping header and a little shove of the goal keeper to open the French account.

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He had missed similar opportunities early on, but the Arsenal striker atoned for his mistakes with a great header, even if he impeded the goal keeper.

The host were in the driving seat until a reckless challenge from Patrice Evra gifted Romania a penalty. The Juventus defender made no effort at getting the ball. He chose the man and brushed off his boot on the attacker's knee, leaving the referee with no option than to point to the spot.

Bognan Stancu stepped up in the 65th minute, threw Lloris one way and the played the ball to another and secured the much needed equalizer for Romania.

Pogba did everything right with his half volley from a superb cross from Payet but the goal keeper was brilliant with a save. 

The game looked destined for a draw. France had taken out Pogba, one of their delightful players; Giroud looked tired and so did the Romania strikers. The clock ticked with fury with the fans itching for a goal that looked rather impossible on the stroke of full time.  

But there was a final twist of the tale and it was Payet who fired a thunderbolt on his left foot from 25 yards with the ball zooming into the top right corner of the net for an amazing finish to a great start by the tournament host.