Written By George Simon
(June 10, 2016) – After four years of waiting, the UEFA Euro comes back with the first game of the tournament where the host nation, France, played against Romania, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The start of action for Group “A” that is also shared by Switzerland and Albania. France was able to give joy to the French people with a late goal by West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet settling the final 2-1 score.
The game started with both teams playing conservative, trying to hold the ball and see if any team made any mistakes in the bottom. Romania was going to be the first team with an opportunity to score after a cross from a corner kick was going to hit the bar for the luck of “Les Bleus”.
France had several great opportunities in the first half without giving any trouble to Romanian goalkeeper, Tatarusanu, who saw Griezmann and Giroud’s shots went wide. Only a header by Griezmann that went to the bar was the only clear opportunity for the blue team.
In the second half, France played a more offensive game creating a lot of chances with Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann creating individual opportunities from the sides. The first goal of the match was in the 58’ minute with a cross by Payet finding Olivier Giroud’s head. Giroud scored the first goal of this Euro with controversy due to a possible foul on the Romanian goalkeeper.
Romania came back fast in the game when they were awarded a penalty kick for a foul by French defender, Patrice Evra. Bogdan Stancu equalized the game from the penalty spot with a great shot to the right side of the goal.
After this goal, the French coach, Didier Deschamps, wanted to change the strategy with the introduction of Kingsley Coman for Antoine Griezmann and Anthony Martial for Paul Pogba. By doing this, Deschamps gave France more speed on the sides as well as giving more freedom to Dimitri Payet in the middle. With this freedom, Payet was able to take the attacking leadership and create several chances. In the 89th minute of the game, Payet scored the first stunner of this Euro with a long shot that went to the top left corner of the goal. Payet's goal was the goal that gave France the victory and their first points of the tournament.
France will play again next Wednesday, June 15, against the debutant Albania who will play their first game tomorrow against Switzerland.
The Euro action continues tomorrow, June 11, with action from Group “A” and “B”, Albania will play their first ever Euro match against Switzerland at 9 am (ET). Wales another debutant will also play their first ever Euro game against Slovakia for the Group “B” at 12 pm(ET) and England will play against Russia in the last game of the day at 3 pm (ET).
The game started with both teams playing conservative, trying to hold the ball and see if any team made any mistakes in the bottom. Romania was going to be the first team with an opportunity to score after a cross from a corner kick was going to hit the bar for the luck of “Les Bleus”.
France had several great opportunities in the first half without giving any trouble to Romanian goalkeeper, Tatarusanu, who saw Griezmann and Giroud’s shots went wide. Only a header by Griezmann that went to the bar was the only clear opportunity for the blue team.
In the second half, France played a more offensive game creating a lot of chances with Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann creating individual opportunities from the sides. The first goal of the match was in the 58’ minute with a cross by Payet finding Olivier Giroud’s head. Giroud scored the first goal of this Euro with controversy due to a possible foul on the Romanian goalkeeper.
Romania came back fast in the game when they were awarded a penalty kick for a foul by French defender, Patrice Evra. Bogdan Stancu equalized the game from the penalty spot with a great shot to the right side of the goal.
After this goal, the French coach, Didier Deschamps, wanted to change the strategy with the introduction of Kingsley Coman for Antoine Griezmann and Anthony Martial for Paul Pogba. By doing this, Deschamps gave France more speed on the sides as well as giving more freedom to Dimitri Payet in the middle. With this freedom, Payet was able to take the attacking leadership and create several chances. In the 89th minute of the game, Payet scored the first stunner of this Euro with a long shot that went to the top left corner of the goal. Payet's goal was the goal that gave France the victory and their first points of the tournament.
France will play again next Wednesday, June 15, against the debutant Albania who will play their first game tomorrow against Switzerland.
The Euro action continues tomorrow, June 11, with action from Group “A” and “B”, Albania will play their first ever Euro match against Switzerland at 9 am (ET). Wales another debutant will also play their first ever Euro game against Slovakia for the Group “B” at 12 pm(ET) and England will play against Russia in the last game of the day at 3 pm (ET).