"?West Ham and France hero Dimitri Payet has admitted that he never dared to hope for the way that Friday night's Euro 2016 opener ended, the 29-year-old curling a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner in the dying minutes to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win.
The goal was Payet's first in a competitive game for his national team, grabbing the three points for his side after a rusty performance from the majority of the team. Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba - expected to star for Les Blues - were both subbed off as Romania gave the hosts a real scare.
GOAL! Wow, what a strike by the magician Dimitri Payet, sensational finish #FRAROU #EURO2016 https://t.co/d4KiKoSPZf
"?Speaking after the match, Payet admitted: "If someone had told me that it was going to be like that tonight I don't think I would have believed it."
He continued: "Yes, we were a bit timid and afraid of making mistakes in the opening quarter. We came up against a side who were very good at defending. The crowd helped -- we know how important the points were.
"Now we're able to rest up and prepare for the second game. Had we won by two or three goals that might have misled us slightly. The fact we won like that shows there won't be any easy matches and we have to go out and win matches."
Payet???????????
His club manager Slaven Bilic was "?talking on ITV after the match, saying: "He would be man of the match anyway (before the goal). He was the best man on the pitch, not just his assist but also his skill. Sometimes it doesn't produce a lot of things, but the things he did on the halfway line that lift the crowd and the team and everything. The goal was amazing and of course we are very glad for him."
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