That feeling came out after the West Ham star netted a fabulous late victor against Romania to give the UEFA EURO 2016 hosts an opening victory at the Stade de France.
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Lloris added: “The first-half save is just a goalkeeper’s job, we always try to do our best for the team”.
France were playing Romania and the local fans were all geared up Europe’s biggest tournament.
That was until Dimitri Payet stepped up.
As well as scoring, Payet was France’s most creative player against the Romanians, providing the assist for Olivier Giroud’s opener, and setting up eight chances in total. And then Dimitri Payet managed to save us all with this fantastic goal.
After scoring one goal and setting up another in France’s opening win at the European Championship, Dimitri Payet left the field in tears.
The France midfielder provided the cross for Olivier Giroud to head in France’s 58th minute opener and then scored a spectacular late victor after Bogdan Stancu had leveled from the penalty spot.
Up to 90,000 police and private security guards will protect players and supporters, just seven months after coordinated Islamic State attacks in Paris killed 130 people.
A Bogdan Stancu penalty put Romania level and they looked like leaving with a share of the spoils before Payet struck his stunning late victor, beautifully curling a left-foot shot into the top corner of the net to delight the home fans.
The National’s Sport cover for the Saturday, June 11 issue, featuring the scene at the Stade de France as the curtain was raised on Euro 2016.
“We started the first half in excellent fashion and we had a very rare chance that the keeper was able to keep out”.
Not even an excellent start to the English Premier League season at his new club West Ham helped his worldwide career. After a performance where he was France’s main instigator, Payet, in the 89th minute, received the ball from a lovely little reverse pass from N’Golo Kante, spun and fired in a vicious left foot strike into the far top corner.
But on Friday, France’s capital city showed its intent to put the atrocities behind them as the colourful ceremony captured the mood of festival ahead of the four weeks of tournament ahead.
The expectation was that France would grow in confidence and extend their lead by continuing to expose Romania’s limitations – but the hosts were undermined by their vulnerable defence.
“Just when we thought we had got through the most hard part, the Romanians were awarded a penalty and they scored”. Payet may be Slaven’s man, but he’s also Didier’s and France’s – the early candidate to be what Michel Platini was to the victorious hosts at the 1984 finals and Zidane to the FIFA World Cup winners 14 years later.
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However, the impressive Payet, who had been behind nearly every France opportunity, was on hand to save the day.
