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Breaking: France beat Romania 2-1, as Euro 2016 begins

Breaking: France beat Romania 2-1, as Euro 2016 begins

France’s forward Dimitri Payet (R) is congratulated by France’s forward Olivier Giroud after scoring the 2-1 during the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Romania at Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on June 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO .

Dimitri Payet’s stunning 25 metre strike a minute from time got hosts France off to a winning start at Euro 2016 on Friday as they beat Romania 2-1.

Payet was France’s standout performer all night. His cross also created the opener for Olivier Giroud before Bogdan Stancu’s penalty looked to have handed Romania a point.

France's forward Dimitri Payet (R) is congratulated by France's forward Olivier Giroud after scoring the 2-1 during the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Romania at Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on June 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO .

France’s forward Dimitri Payet (R) is congratulated by France’s forward Olivier Giroud after scoring the 2-1 during the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Romania at Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on June 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO .

However, the mercurial West Ham playmaker produced a moment of brilliance as he smashed the ball into the top corner to ensure France’s month-long festival of football got off to a flier.