France 2-1 Romania
By Mikey Godsmark, Deputy Chief Reporter
A moment of magic from Dimitri Payet saved
France after they were given a big scare from Romania.
Patrice Evra was guilty of taking down Bogdan Stancu in the box who then stepped up to score the resulting penalty after Giroud had headed the Frecnh into the lead. But Payet scored a wonderful goal to ensure all three points went to the hosts.
Romania had the best chance of the first half, coming very close from a corner, Lloris saving from point blank range. Griezmann and Giroud both coming close but after their early chances the game became quite scrappy. Greizmann fired wide again and Giroud had a free header from a corner but half time arrived without the Romanian keeper having been troubled.
Stancu came close gain for Romania as frustration built. It looked like it wasn't going to be Giroud’s night when he fired straight at Tatarusanu but it was Giroud who broke the deadlock, heading in from a Payet cross. France weren't ahead for long and after he was fouled in the box by Evra, Stancu bravely stepped up to finish the penalty. France looked unable to break Romania down and the night was fizzling out, Payet’s brilliance ensured that didn't happen.
The game was preceded by the traditional open ceremony, those for football tournaments always seem so tame in comparison to the spectacular shows at Olympics. This ceremony was no different with some slightly choreographed dancing, some over enthusiastic music and an actually quite nice flag display.
After a nervy start from both teams it was Romania who started to apply pressure winning an early corner. From the corner the ball fell to Bogdan Stancu who hit his shot at Lloris from point blank range, a chance to give the large swathes of yellow at the Stade de France some encouragement and he should have done better. However it was France who came close next with Giroud heading just wide after 11 minutes.
France came close again three minutes later as Griezmann reacted quickly in the area but could only head the ball against the near post with Tatarusanu stranded. Over the next ten minutes the game slowed down with France dominating possession but Romania still posing a threat going forward. Chances however, were few and far between as Mexican waves starting to do the rounds.
The game started to become more and more scrappy as Vlad Chiriches was booked by Victor Kassai. France continued to push forward and Greizmann fired a snapshot just wide after a pullback from Payet. Romania refused to be pushed back as their back four held a high line and France failed to exploit the spaces in behind.
As half-time approached the French crowd became increasingly impatient as France continued to be frustrated by the Tricolorii. Two minutes were added on and France came close again with Giroud heading over this time from a Payet corner. Romania went into the break the happier of the two teams with the scores level.
Attacking the end of the loud travelling support, Romania came close again with Stancu volleying just wide when the ball dropped to him in the box, again he should have done better. Giroud came close for a third time, failing to connect with a snapshot which was easily dealt with by Tatarusanu. France continued press as Paul Pogba volleyed straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.
France weren't to be kept out for long.
Dmitri Payet turned provider again as he put in a wonderful ball for Olivier Giroud who rose against Tatarusanu and was simply to strong as all he had to do was make contact, as the ball floated into an empty net. It was vindication for the Arsenal man who looked as if his night would end in frustration.
Just as it looked as if France were cruising, Stancu popped up again and was taken down by Partrice Evra in the box. After some hesitation the referee Kassai gave the penalty. After missing two golden chances Stancu stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to send the travelling Romania support into raptures.
France looked slightly stunned to be back on level terms and this frustration showed as goal scorer Giroud found his way into the referee’s notebook. In response, Greizmann was taken of for teenager, Kingsley Coman. France were dominating possession but failed to create anything substantial as the game ticked into its last 15 minutes.
As the clock ticked down Romania dropped increasingly deep as France struggled to break them down as they transitioned into a 4-5-1 whilst defending, but were still a threat on the break. Martial had a half chance on the edge of the box which looped straight into the hands of Tatarusanu.
The game started to drift away from France as the final five minutes began, only Coman’s pace looking able to cause a threat.
Then a moment of magic struck.
In the 89th minute
Payet picked up the ball on the right of the box. He glided along the edge of
the area and then unleashed a moment of magic, lashing the ball into the top
left hand corner from well,outside the box. The keeper didn't move. It was a
wonderful goal, worthy of winning any game and an emphatic answer to those who
thought he couldn't deliver on the biggest stage.
Man of the Match: Dimitri Payet. Was going to be my man of the match before his goal, he assisted Giroud’s header and created two other chances that should have been scored, simply brilliant goal.
By Mikey Godsmark, Deputy Chief Reporter
Patrice Evra was guilty of taking down Bogdan Stancu in the box who then stepped up to score the resulting penalty after Giroud had headed the Frecnh into the lead. But Payet scored a wonderful goal to ensure all three points went to the hosts.
Romania had the best chance of the first half, coming very close from a corner, Lloris saving from point blank range. Griezmann and Giroud both coming close but after their early chances the game became quite scrappy. Greizmann fired wide again and Giroud had a free header from a corner but half time arrived without the Romanian keeper having been troubled.
Stancu came close gain for Romania as frustration built. It looked like it wasn't going to be Giroud’s night when he fired straight at Tatarusanu but it was Giroud who broke the deadlock, heading in from a Payet cross. France weren't ahead for long and after he was fouled in the box by Evra, Stancu bravely stepped up to finish the penalty. France looked unable to break Romania down and the night was fizzling out, Payet’s brilliance ensured that didn't happen.
The game was preceded by the traditional open ceremony, those for football tournaments always seem so tame in comparison to the spectacular shows at Olympics. This ceremony was no different with some slightly choreographed dancing, some over enthusiastic music and an actually quite nice flag display.
After a nervy start from both teams it was Romania who started to apply pressure winning an early corner. From the corner the ball fell to Bogdan Stancu who hit his shot at Lloris from point blank range, a chance to give the large swathes of yellow at the Stade de France some encouragement and he should have done better. However it was France who came close next with Giroud heading just wide after 11 minutes.
France came close again three minutes later as Griezmann reacted quickly in the area but could only head the ball against the near post with Tatarusanu stranded. Over the next ten minutes the game slowed down with France dominating possession but Romania still posing a threat going forward. Chances however, were few and far between as Mexican waves starting to do the rounds.
The game started to become more and more scrappy as Vlad Chiriches was booked by Victor Kassai. France continued to push forward and Greizmann fired a snapshot just wide after a pullback from Payet. Romania refused to be pushed back as their back four held a high line and France failed to exploit the spaces in behind.
As half-time approached the French crowd became increasingly impatient as France continued to be frustrated by the Tricolorii. Two minutes were added on and France came close again with Giroud heading over this time from a Payet corner. Romania went into the break the happier of the two teams with the scores level.
Attacking the end of the loud travelling support, Romania came close again with Stancu volleying just wide when the ball dropped to him in the box, again he should have done better. Giroud came close for a third time, failing to connect with a snapshot which was easily dealt with by Tatarusanu. France continued press as Paul Pogba volleyed straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.
France weren't to be kept out for long.
Dmitri Payet turned provider again as he put in a wonderful ball for Olivier Giroud who rose against Tatarusanu and was simply to strong as all he had to do was make contact, as the ball floated into an empty net. It was vindication for the Arsenal man who looked as if his night would end in frustration.
Giroud showed great strength to put the hosts ahead
Just as it looked as if France were cruising, Stancu popped up again and was taken down by Partrice Evra in the box. After some hesitation the referee Kassai gave the penalty. After missing two golden chances Stancu stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to send the travelling Romania support into raptures.
Stancu took his penalty cooly
France looked slightly stunned to be back on level terms and this frustration showed as goal scorer Giroud found his way into the referee’s notebook. In response, Greizmann was taken of for teenager, Kingsley Coman. France were dominating possession but failed to create anything substantial as the game ticked into its last 15 minutes.
As the clock ticked down Romania dropped increasingly deep as France struggled to break them down as they transitioned into a 4-5-1 whilst defending, but were still a threat on the break. Martial had a half chance on the edge of the box which looped straight into the hands of Tatarusanu.
The game started to drift away from France as the final five minutes began, only Coman’s pace looking able to cause a threat.
Then a moment of magic struck.
In the 89th minute
Payet picked up the ball on the right of the box. He glided along the edge of
the area and then unleashed a moment of magic, lashing the ball into the top
left hand corner from well,outside the box. The keeper didn't move. It was a
wonderful goal, worthy of winning any game and an emphatic answer to those who
thought he couldn't deliver on the biggest stage.Man of the Match: Dimitri Payet. Was going to be my man of the match before his goal, he assisted Giroud’s header and created two other chances that should have been scored, simply brilliant goal.
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