Here we go then, the opening match of Euro 2016.

Live on ITV1, proceedings start at 7.15pm with kick-off at 8pm. The game will also be broadcast online at ITV Hub and on BBC Radio 5 Live.

France start the tournament as favourites and have a decent record over Romania having not lost to them in their previous 10 meetings. You have to go back to 1972 for the last time Romania recorded a victory over the French.

However, on only 5 occasions has the host nation (or nations) won their opening game at the European Championship.


So, what do we reckon, a straightforward French victory or will the Romanians take something?

C'mon Romania. Would be a great way to start the tournament with a shock.

Can see a somewhat nervy performance from the French here with a few scares, but they'll eventually come out on top.

Predicting 3-1.

Romania are a very well drilled side and difficult to break down. I fancy the French but this won't be a walk-over.

definitely routing for romania... unless they're up against scotland, germany or argentina i could never bring myself to cheer on the french...

now it's finally here, i can't for this tournament to get going...

I hope France win BIG!!!!!

The odds of 4/11 about a France win look ridiculous to be quite honest with you, hosts advantage or not.

Romania have only lost 1 of their last 20 matches, and they've held the likes of Spain and Italy to draws in recent games. They are a very trappy opponent indeed to get for the first game, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the underdogs here manage to get something.

These opening matches all tend to follow a similar pattern.

You have the host nation, in front of their expectant and anticipatory home fans and carrying the collective hopes of a nation, stifled by nerves and playing in a constrained manner against an unfancied opponent with nothing to lose, who realise that they're in the ideal position to take advantage of their hosts' hesitancy and more often than not do so.

However, I think that those two predicaments will be at extremes this evening given how much figurative weight there is on the French team to bind together a wounded nation, and how the Romanians have a strong platform in their defence to push forward with growing confidence and exploit any French hesitancy.

I'm going for a narrow, edgy French win - but a draw would not surprise me in the slightest.

1-1 and a red card.

Tonight's line-ups.

France:
Lloris, Sagna, Koscielny, Rami, Evra, Kanté, Matuidi, Pogba, Griezmann, Payet, Giroud.

Romania:
Tatarusanu, Sspunaru, Grigore, Chiriches, Rat, Hoban, Pintilii, Stanciu, Popa, Stancu, Andone.

2-1 France

Disappointing to not see Martial start for France, instead they have gone with the much more static and slow Giroud up front.

France to win 2-0, they have the best team and being at home will spur them on.

Feel like France will come sprinting out of the gates here. Expecting a big win.

Exepcting Matuidi and Kante to outshine the overrated Pogba in the middle

love how romania have a player called rat...

Is there no opening ceremony

Perhaps it took the form of the concert that happened at the Eiffel Tower fanzone last night.

There's a load of rain coming. http://www.weathercast.co.uk/radar/france.html

ITV will have to go inside.

No more Bartoli please

Haha, random Marion segment

State of Bartoli. Where's John Inverdale when you need him?

I think he's even worse than her personally.

...I just got what you were talking about

Who's playing? I cant read ITV's tiny captions.

Also where was the Romania side. Or are we all pretending to love France tonight and ignoring everyone else.

Martial was battling it out with Payet for a starting position out wide, not with Giroud for a start up front. Giroud has started 6 of the last 8 at #9, Gignac the other 2. Martial has never played as a 9 for France from the start of a match.

Edit: It's not like Giroud hasn't been effective lately either (click the "national team" tab) - http://us.soccerway.com/players/oliver-giroud/59504/ Whereas Martial has yet to score for his country.