What They Said: Post-match reaction from France vs. Romania

Sport360 staff 02:50 11/06/2016
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  • Match-winner: Payet.

    Following France’s dramatic late win over Romania in the opening game of Euro 2016, the key figures on show have been having their say on the night’s action.

    Sport360 rounds-up the best of the post-match reaction.

    Man of the match, Dimitri Payet: 

    If someone had told me that it was going to be like that tonight I don’t think I would have believed it.

    “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.”

    France coach Didier Deschamps:

    It’s good to have won. The Romania team aren’t easy to play against – and we knew that. We had chances, but we conceded a few as well.

    “We had a bit of trouble letting our hair down, but we got our reward in the end. I made sure we played to win, with four attacking players on the pitch at the end. Given the context, an opening match is never easy.

    There’s so much passion behind the French national side and the players are aware of that. But the players have certain duties. It’s not mentally easy to manage but we were rewarded. That’s going to give us even greater confidence and calmness.”

    Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu:

    “We started the first half in excellent fashion and had a rare opportunity that the keeper was able to keep out. If we’d scored, that would have changed the whole match. At the start of the second period we got into their area a lot and unfortunately [Bogdan] Stancu missed another chance.

    “I’d like to congratulate my players for having implemented all the tactical instructions I gave them. I thank them for the quality of their play despite the fact we lost. It really hurts to lose in the 89th minute but it was a fabulous strike from a wonderful player.

    “If you’d been in the dressing room you’d have seen just how disappointed the players were. It will be difficult to rekindle the players’ form and fitness because they’re exhausted.”

    France captain Hugo Lloris:

    “The most important thing was to get the three points tonight. It was a tough game with a lot of pressure and we also felt quite a lot of tension in our team. But we managed to find the resources to win the game and we must congratulate Dimitri Payet, who scored a fantastic goal.

    “Be it with France or West Ham, everybody knows how talented [Payet] is. Plus, it was good for him to kick-start his tournament. And we can sense that he is doing well and is full of confidence. Even if a win is always a team effort, you always need your top players to perform at their best.”

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