France 2-1 Romania Euro 2016: Dimitri Payet stunner spares French blushes on opening night

THE wait is finally over.

Euro 2016 is here and we're on hand to bring you all the twists and turns over the next month.

Hosts France kick us off tonight against Romania at the Stade de France in Paris, with Les Bleus going into the tournament as favourites.

Tonight they'll look to break down a Romanian side who boasted the best defensive record in qualifying, conceding just twice in 10 games as they qualified withe ease from Group F.

Fans will be eager to see how this exciting French team deals with the pressure of a home tournament - and whether they can emulate the successes of 1984 and 1998.

Leading you through this footballing feast is our man GRAHAM WRAY.

10.00 - That's all from me tonight. Oh and COME ON EN-GER-LAND!!! Goodnight!

9.56 - So Allez les Bleus and all that! Now let's see if England can top that tomorrow night! You might have heard that Roy's boys take on Russia Saturday evening. You can follow that right here with Gavin Newsham

9.54 - That was a goal worthy of winning a final let alone an opening match. Will we see a better goal than that all tournament?

9.54 - ALL OVER! FULL TIME: FRANCE 2 ROMANIA 1

9.51 - Even before the goal, Payet was the best player on the pitch by a million miles. But that was some strike just when France needed it. If he continues this form, he already looks a shoe-in for player of the tournament. He takes a standing ovation as he's replaced by Sissoko with just minutes to go

9.49 - It just had to be Dimitri Payet! And it's an absolute peach as out of nowhere he thunders a 20 yard left footer into the top bins!  C’est Magnifique!

9.48 - GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!! FRANCE 2 ROMANIA 1

9.45 - France have got five minutes to find a winner. Fair to say, it hasn't been the silky performance the home crowd were hoping for. Still, it's the first game. What they definitely don't want is to lose it. And Romania look well capable of nicking a winner

9.41 - Romania make a sub with Adrian Popa popping off. On comes Gabriel Torje. No, me neither.

9.40 - Where do you think Michel Platini is watching this? Bet he’s sat at home, slumped in front of the telly in his pants, sparking up a Gauloise with a can of Kronenbourg on the go

9.37 - Here's a big call from French boss Deschamps. He replaces Paul Pogba with Anthony Martial. Pogba looks none too pleased about it either. Can't say I blame him. He's looked a real threat all night

9.34 - 15 minutes left for France to find a winner. They seriously need to go through a few gears because they're looking very sloppy indeed. To be fair to him though, Payet looks a class apart. He's full of tricks and flicks and little jinks and dribbles. Ooh la la indeed!

9.30 - If England end up playing France in the quarter finals- which could well happen if we top our group - I don't half fancy watching Jamie Vardy tear Patrice Evra a new one for 90 minutes. Bring it on!

9.27 - What's the opposite of a burst of pace? A puff of dawdle? Because that's what Evra's got. He was half asleep when Stancu burst into the box and ended up committing the weariest tackle you'll see all tournament. Shocking defending

9.25 - GOOOAAALLLLL!!! FRANCE 1 ROMANIA 1. Stancu makes no mistake with the spot kick, sending Lloris the wrong way. Game on!

9.24 - PENALTY TO ROMANIA. Evra bodychecks Stancu and that's a clear penalty...

9.21 - Tell you what. Romanian keeper Tatarusanu can wave ta-ta to his place in the side for the next game. He was about as convincing dealing with that cross as Chris Evans is at hosting a telly programme about cars

9.17 - Let's pretend I never said that about Giroud. Payet whips a peach of a cross over from the right, the keeper comes and waves at it, allowing Giroud to rise beautifully and flick it into the corner of the net. France have the breakthrough!

9.17 - GOOOOAALLLLLLL!!!!!!! FRANCE 1 ROMANIA 0

9.14 - Surely France are going to have to bring Martial on sooner rather than later. With Giroud in his current form, the United striker is a luxury they simply can't afford to have sitting on the bench

9.13 - Oooh, Chiriches is a lucky boy here. He's already on a yellow but slides dangerously in on (Cheryl) Matuidi, clattering the Frenchaman's ankle. A second yellow card all day long but the ref bottles it

9.11 - Better from France as Payet skips through the Romanian defence, slides Giroud in only for the Arsenal 'striker' to slam his shot straight down the keeper's throat

9.07 - Oh my word, Stancu's had another stinker! He takes the ball on his chest six yards out but under no pressure slices his shot horribly wide. Shocking miss! Watch Chelsea put an £18 million bid in for him when this tournament's over

9.04 - PEEEP! We're back underway - no changes at half time. I was hoping the Romanians were all going to come out having bleached their hair blonde at half time. Remember, when they did that a few tournaments ago? What larks!

9.04 - Lee Dixon is scared witless by Slaven Bilic isn't he?

8.50 - Romania will be delighted to get to half time without conceding. France grew into the game and had three cracking chances after Lloris saved their blushes with a stunning stop after four minutes. This one's still right in the balance

8.49 - HALF TIME: FRANCE 0 ROMANIA 0

8.48 - CLOSE! Another gilt-edged chance for Olvier Giroud who shrugs off his marker at a corner and then displays all his Arsenal form by battering a header over the bar. Got to hit the target, monsieur!

8.46 - We're just a couple of minutes from half time as France grow in stature with Pogba pulling all the strings. Bet Man United are really chuffed they let him go in order to crowbar Tom Cleverley into their side

8.45 - Just going back to that official tournament mascot. If you fancy buying a toy version of Super Victor, DO NOT ON ANY ACCOUNT google it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

8.40 - Another half chance for France as Payet finds Griezmann only for the striker to hit his first time shot a whisker wide. Turns out it took a slight deflection but France don't get the corner. Ha!

8.37 - By the way, tonight’s ref is Hungary’s Viktor Kassai. Not to be confused with the official tournament mascot, ‘Super Victor’ who looks like the love-child of Tom Daly and Jedward. If you can imagine such a nightmarish vision

8.33 - Is it me or has Vlad Chiriches turned into Mark Schwarzer since he left Spurs? He's the spitting image of him. Anyway, he's earned himself a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Giroud. He's have got away with that in the Premier League, you know.

8.31 - Have you clocked Pogba’s hair? There’s a man who’s spent 20 Euros down at Monsieur Toppers this morning

8.30 Hello. Cracking strike from Pogba who unleashes a 30 yard rasper only to see it fade just past the far post

8.27 - Ooh, so close to an opener as Rami almost finds Giroud with a slide rule pass but Grigore does brilliantly to slide in and intercept before the Frenchman is in on goal

8.24 - Twenty four minutes gone and I've seen nothing in either of these sides to frighten England. The trophy's as good as in the bag, lads

8.19 - France have settled nicely after that early scare. But for me, the big surprise is that ITV co-commentator Glenn Hoddle has yet to utter hsi favourite phrase, 'Coming off his perch'. He'll give us one before half time, I promise you

8.16 - POST CLANG! So close to the opening goal of the tournament as Griezmann slams a header against the post after the ball clangs back off (Rags) Chiriches

8.12 - First big chance of the night for France and it's just like watching the Premier League as Payet delivers a peach of a cross only for Giroud to fluff a simple header wide of the post

8.09 - France are the spitting image of England - full of attacking riches but a bag of nerves at the back. This might not be as straightforward as the hosts thought because Romania are in full party-pooping mode

8.06 - Sacre Bleu! Stancu's had a stinker! The Romanian forward should give the visitors the lead with a point-blank toe-poke at the far post but Lloris comes to the rescue with a stunning reaction stop. They surely won't get a better chance than that all night

8.04 - That's enough Eurotrash, on with the football! After a spin-tingling La Marseillaise, we're underway at last!

7.55 - I reckon they should give the tournament a Eurovision feel by inviting Australia to take part

7.53 - What this ceremony desperately needs is Vanessa Paradis to waddle up and toe-poke a penalty so wide of the goal it ends up rolling down the Champs Elysees

7.49 - Clive Tyldseley there pretending he's heard of David Guetta. If this was in England, you'd now be watching Bruno Brookes playing the Birdie Song

7.48 - Any minute now, they’re going to wheel out a giant effigy of Michel Platini, spewing fireworks out of his backside where the FBI put that rocket

7.46 - Bang on cue, a load of can-can girls. Terrific. If we don't get a bloke wearing a giant Eiffel Tower costume I'm going to be very disappointed

7.45 - Here we go with the opening ceremony. Let's have us some Eurovision nonsense as Clive Tyldesley comes over all Graham Norton. If you'll pardon the expression

7.44 - FACT ME! France are unbeaten in their last 10 games against Romania (W5 D5). However, four of their last five encounters have ended in draws.

7.43 - So who do you fancy in tonight's opener? I'm going for a 'cagey' 1-0 France win

7.37 - I'm also predicting Slaven Bilic will go 'rogue' by the end of next week and take the very annoying Emmanuel Petit hostage. Mark my words, Gazza will turn up with a fishing rod and a chicken.

7.32 - Have you checked ITV's new open air rooftop studio? My money's on Lee Dixon chucking himself off there by week two. Watching Chris Smalling trying to defend a corner can do that to a man

7.28 - Never mind Marcus Rashford, the biggest surprise name at the Euros is ITV's Andy Townsend. Who predicted him getting a shock recall? Is he a world class co-commentator? Not for me, Clive

7.25 - So who's your money on to win the tournament? Got to be France hasn't it? Although I've got a sneaky feeling England are going to surprise everyone and reach the semi-finals. With Tom Heaton proving to be the man who really sets the tournament alight. Well alright, perhaps not.

7.20 - Romania: Sapunaru, Chiriches, Grigore, Rat, Pintilii, Hoban, Popa, Stanciu, Stancu, Andone.

Subs: Pantilimon, Matel, Moti, Chipciu, Alibec, Torje, Keseru, Gaman, Filip, Sanmartean, Prepelita, Lung

7.16 - Let's pretend anyone really gives a stuff about Romania... ex Spurs man Vlad Chiriches skippers the side. Yes, really!!

7.14 - France: Lloris, Sagna, Koscielny, Rami, Evra, Matuidi, Kante, Pogba, Payet, Giroud, Griezmann

Subs: Mandanda, Jallet, Cabaye, Gignac, Martial, Schneiderlin, Mangala, Digne, Sissoko, Coman, Umtiti, Costil

7.11 - Let's crack on with the team news. And the big news for France is that Anthony Martial starts on the bench. Sacre bleu!  West Ham's Dimitri Payet will start on the left

7.08 - Yes, 24 countries and 51 games to gorge ourselves on over the next four weeks. Draw the curtains and prepare to eat your body weight in Pringles. The hour is upon us!

7.02 - I’m Graham Wray and I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it… I’m about to lose control and I think I like it… I’m so excited and I want you, I want you, to join me for the opening game at Euro 2016...

6.58 - Bonsoir mes amis!

6.50pm - Welcome to Sun Sport's coverage of Euro 2016