I can't believe Payet's 29. Might be his only good tournament!

At least the French team can be proud that their win tonight was deserved unlike that disgraceful Brazil opening game at the 2014 WC.

A good start in my book.

Nope disagree France didn't play that well and were rather fortunate individual brilliance bailed them out, if Payet hadn't hit that winner people would have called 1-1 a fair result.

They need to up their game or they wont win the tournament.

He was amazing tonight, but so was Pogba I thought, so I was totally perplexed by his substitution when they needed another goal. There are so many managers who like to sub the best player on the pitch at around the 75 minute mark.

Well, Romania are a very decent, very well-organised and well-prepared team and tough to break down. I expect them to get out of the group. Yet France continued to try to create something even though they were all clearly under the great weight of expectations and the pressure of the political significance of this game. I thought they did well in the circumstances and individually their squad has so much quality!

Don't understand all this raving about Pogba's performance. He had good moments and bad moments I thought and was a fair bit behind Payet and Kante in terms of overall performance.

I thought Pogba was quite average.

Payet's a great player to watch though.

You were perplexed as to why when they needed a goal they brought on a goalscorer, who perhaps is the best pure striker that the French have in their squad??

Bringing off Pogba allowed them to have a more flexible attacking unit.

Lol Martial is NOT the best striker the French have!!!!

Martial has all the potential in the world but he's not the best anything for France yet.

Even better than Payet's goal was his struggle to keep himself together afterwards, it's always nice to be reminded that it matters to players.

Yes, loved that! This tournament means so much to France and to Europe as a whole. Those French players almost have the weight of the world on their shoulders and many of them showed nerves, but Payet was out there to prove a point. He was spectacular and played with so much heart. Didn't expect that he out of all those great players would be the star, but "wow" is all I can say

I'm just surprised Batdude didn't claim he was Man of the Match.

Why would I say that when he didn't really have long enough on the pitch to get close to such an award??

Well since the Benzema is not there, Griezeman is probably in better form than him, and certainly enjoyed a better club season than Martial, so there could be an argument made or put forward to say that he is the best one in the squad, but after him, Martial is clearly better than Giroud.

example #1 of club bias

No club bias from me, if there were then I would say that Martial is better than Benzema wouldn't I, and I have not done so.

'Clearly better than Giroud' is your bias. Ignoring they're completely different players, one is raw potential and one is established. If it was all that clear, Giroud wouldn't be leading the line ahead of their apparent best pure striker.

Just like with another nation in Spain (see Casillas and De Gea decisions in recent competitive games) sometimes a coaches decision doesn't mean that the player starting is better than the player not starting.

Benzema is the best French striker, and he is not even in the squad, so starting players is not really a justification of who is better.

Benzema isn't a decision based on ability.

He is still not in the squad, and is France's best striker, after him then the title of best striker in their squad is very much up for grabs.

So if its up for grabs then you admit one isn't clearly better or the best pure striker.

totally stunning goal from the excellent Payet. Hope he keeps it up throughout the tournament. A worry for France is the form and confidence of Griezmann. I can see Martial/Coman coming in for him. He was a bit shellshocked after missing that pen for AM in the CL final.
Giroud was Giroud. Puts himself about, tries hard, scores 1/3 or 1/4 of his chances. But he's way better than Gignac.
France were incredibly nervous. They'll get better. Rami was surprisingly good which is a plus, although still think their defence is their weakest for years.
Thought Pogba had a very good first half, then faded. Matuidi seems to be playing deeper to support such a weak defence, so Payet and Pogba will be key going forward.

Amazing that no-one can sort out the pitch in the Stade de France (like Wembley). Slow, bumpy, awful. I went to a rugby match 2 years ago there and they kept having to move the scrum as huge man-sized divots were churned up. Doesn't suit the slick passing way France play.

Ive only watched (on tv) France play 2 full matches in last 12 months, but from both those matches to some degree they remind me of when arsenal pick an XI with no outright pace and play lesser opposition. Narrow midfield, lots of the ball, by far the more talented of the two teams but very unsuccessful in creating any goal chances of note. No pace up front or width, so no getting behind the opposition, either wide or over the top. And then to cap it all looking shaky defending set pieces and conceding a goal from a brainless moment by one of their defenders.

Presumably France have more to come in terms of creating and scoring goals as they really do look close to being a top side, they certainly have the players.