Paris (AFP) - Dimitri Payet left the field in tears of joy after scoring the sensational last-gasp goal in France's 2-1 win over Romania to launch their European Championship campaign in style on Friday.
"It was a lot of stress, a lot of pressure, if someone had told me it would have gone like that I don't think I would have believed them," said Payet.
"It was that emotion that came out in the goal," added the 29-year-old who has broken into the France team this year after a stunning season with West Ham United in the English Premier League.
Payet was France's standout performer throughout as he also set up Olivier Giroud's opening goal. After Romania had equalised and seemed to be holding on for a draw, Payet struck in the 89th minute with a curling 25 metre shot to take the tournament opener.
Payet left the field in tears in stoppage time as he was substituted to a standing ovation at an emotional Stade de France, just seven months after the stadium was targeted in the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris in November.
