Payet magic rescues France
Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up. After admirably winning tackles, narrowing angles and closing down spaces for over 88 minutes, Romania were undone by a moment of magic that was impossible to stop.
France looked set to drop two points in their opening encounter, the hosts seemingly out of ideas as the clock ticked on. It had, in many ways, been a frustrating performance from Didier Deschamps’s side, who showed flashes of their quality without ever really hitting top gear.
Romania, rigid and resolute, had done a brilliant job at limiting France to only one goal, with an invaluable draw just a few minutes away.
Then Dimitri Payet had his say. It was a sensational strike from the West Ham United playmaker, who got the ball out of his feet with his first touch before firing an unstoppable effort into the top corner with his second.
In hindsight, Payet’s performance seemed to be building towards a big finish. He became more and more influential as the game wore on, with his ability to drift past opponents and play penetrative passes helping to unsettle a tiring Romanian backline in the second half.
Deschamps, too, deserves credit for moving Payet into the central position from which he changed the match late on. It was cruel on Romania, but this was a goal worthy of winning any game.
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Defensive wobbles for the hosts
Peaking too soon is a fate that every side at this competition will want to avoid, and France will not be the only major nation forced to grind out a group-stage win against inferior but stubborn opposition.
Nevertheless, they will have to tighten up at the back if they are to claim the trophy at the Stade de France next month. Romania caused Deschamps’s men numerous problems when they committed bodies forward – namely from set-pieces and counter-attacks in behind full-backs Patrice Evra and Bacary Sagna – and more clinical teams will punish France if they too are afforded the same opportunities.
Evra looked particularly shaky, with ball-winning machine N’Golo Kante often forced to move out to the left-back zone and clean up the danger. Romania spurned some glorious chances, most notably when Hugo Lloris was forced into action to keep out Bogdan Stancu in the fourth minute, and France will have to be wary of such defensive slackness in matches to come.
A positive sign of things to come?
One fear expressed in the build-up to the first 24-team European Championship was that many of the smaller nations would play defensively, partly because they lacked the quality to compete but also because three draws could be enough to secure a place in the last 16.
Others took a more optimistic view, arguing that the underdogs would actually adopt an attacking approach in the knowledge that a single victory might see them through to the knockout rounds.
It is still far too early to rule either way, but Romania’s display offers hope that other outsiders will opt for the latter rather than the former. Anghel Iordanescu’s charges were far bolder than many expected, pressing France in midfield, defending with a high line and pushing men forward at the start of both halves.
International tournaments sometimes succumb to certain overarching moods. The open, attacking football on show during the first few days of the 2014 World Cup, for instance, seemed to encourage more of the same throughout the group stage. Neutrals will hope Romania’s ambition will be repeated by others.
Player of the day
Payet, who took responsibility in the second half and made things happen for his side. The pre-tournament focus had been on Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann as potential talismanic figures, but perhaps it will be Payet who inspires his nation on home soil this summer.
Goal of the day
That man Payet again. Watching the replay from behind the 29-year-old West Ham star showed how incredibly sweetly he hit the ball into the top corner with his weaker foot. Credit must also go to Stancu for keeping his cool from the penalty spot to equalise for Romania.
Moment of the day
The goal was stunning and will live long in the memory, and so too will Payet’s reaction when being substituted a few minutes later. The former Marseille man broke down in tears as he was replaced by Moussa Sissoko, clearly overwhelmed by emotion as the realisation of what he had just done began to sink in.
Decision of the day
The fifth officials behind the goal receive a lot of unfair criticism, largely because many erroneously assume they do not contribute anything towards the refereeing of a game. In actual fact, they act as an important extra pair of eyes for incidents inside the penalty area, as was evidenced by one of the additional officials instructing Viktor Kassai to award Romania a spot-kick when Evra fouled Nicolae Stanciu in the 64th minute.
Howler of the day
Howler is perhaps a little harsh, but Ciprian Tatarusanu did not exactly cover himself in glory for France’s opener. Payet’s cross was brilliantly pitched between the goalkeeper and his defenders, but the Fiorentina custodian was too weak in trying to beat Olivier Giroud to the ball.
Statistic of the day
Payet created eight chances against Romania, double the amount of the rest of the France team combined.
Thing to look forward to
England take on Russia on Saturday, and it will be interesting to see how Roy Hodgson attempts to fit as much of his attacking talent into the same starting XI as possible.
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