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, the tournament just seven months after it was targeted in the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris in November.
After the final whistle went, Payet embraced his small son on the field.
Payet said he had been overcome by the way he has fought his way into the French team.
"At the start of the season, a lot of people would have found it hard to believe I would be here," said the attacking midfielder.
"I have got here by working hard," added the hero of the night, who is determined to "soak up the experience" of playing in Euro 2016.
"When I saw the stadium tonight I knew I was going to have fun," said Payet who predicted more hard-working performances.
After the match, West Ham warned off rival clubs who could be tempted to make an offer. "The whole of Europe understands #WeveGotPayet," the London club said on its Twitter account.
All of the French side were relieved to have got the win.
"We knew that we were a bit timid in the opening quarter of an hour. We were afraid of making mistakes," said Payet.
"Then we settled, but they defended very well. We managed to find the back of the net, but then they levelled things up.
READ: Payet delivers France win to launch Euro 2016
"The crowd helped us as well, we know how important the three points are and now we can relax and rest up for the next match."
"This Romania team isn't easy to play, we knew that, even if we were able to score the opening goal," said France coach Didier Deschamps.
"We struggled to get out the blocks but the reward was at the end. It's a very good thing to have won the first match, to start us off in the competition."
AFP
Sat Jun 11 2016
France's forward Dimitri Payet celebrates after scoring the 2-1 during the Euro 2016 group A football match between France and Romania at Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on June 10, 2016. - AFP Photo/Franck Fife
Pemimpin Israel berpecah kerana tadbir urus Gaza pasca perang
Netanyahu juga berada di bawah tekanan Washington untuk mengakhiri konflik dengan segera.
Haji: Petugas media main peranan penting tangkis berita tidak benar
Perkara itu perlu bagi memberi gambaran sebenar apa yang berlaku di Tanah Suci kepada rakyat Malaysia.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [19 Mei 2024]
Antara fokus AWANI Pagi bersama Nursyazwani Saiful Sham & Azib Zikry
- Serangan Ulu Tiram: Tiada kaitan kumpulan pengganas
- Menjelang HAWANA 2024: Kesihatan mental petugas media
- The Experts: Pelakon hebat, genre berbeza
- Serangan Ulu Tiram: Tiada kaitan kumpulan pengganas
- Menjelang HAWANA 2024: Kesihatan mental petugas media
- The Experts: Pelakon hebat, genre berbeza
Mangsa banjir di Perak menurun pagi ini, 100 mangsa masih di PPS
Lima pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) masih beroperasi di dua daerah terjejas iaitu empat di Taiping dan satu di Kuala Kangsar.
Klopp kini di media sosial
Bekas pengendali Borussia Dortmund berusia 56 tahun itu yang kini mempunyai akaun Instagram telah mengumpul lebih 750,000 pengikut.
Biadab, pijak al-Quran bersumpah tidak curang
Dia bertindak sedemikian hanya kerana mahu membuktikan tidak berselingkuh dengan seorang doktor kecantikan.
Rejim Zionis mara ke Jabalia, antara kem pelarian terbesar
Tentera zionis Israel pada Sabtu dilihat terus mara ke utara Gaza dengan menggunakan kereta kebal dan kenderaan berperisai. Kali ini, lokasi operasi rejim itu tertumpu ke Jabalia, salah satu daripada lapan kem pelarian terbesar di Semenanjung Gaza.
Polis Israel guna meriam air leraikan protes antikerajaan
Polis Israel bertindak melepaskan meriam air bagi meleraikan penunjuk perasaan anti-kerajaan yang menggesa pembebasan tebusan yang ditahan Hamas.
Elak masalah, guna talian kecemasan di gelang haji
Dalam usaha memastikan keselesaan jemaah haji ketika menunaikan ibadah rukun Islam kelima itu, Lembaga Tabung Haji, TH menyediakan khidmat pelanggan yang beroperasi 24 jam tujuh hari seminggu di mekah.
Jemaah haji boleh membuat aduan di kaunter khidmat pelanggan TH yang terletak di ibu pejabat di Abraj Janadriah dan bangunan hotel land premium selain kaunter pusat perkhidmatan di semua sembilan maktab penginapan.
Jemaah haji boleh membuat aduan di kaunter khidmat pelanggan TH yang terletak di ibu pejabat di Abraj Janadriah dan bangunan hotel land premium selain kaunter pusat perkhidmatan di semua sembilan maktab penginapan.
Jangan kaitkan serangan dengan aktiviti ekstremism
Orang awam dinasihat tidak menimbulkan sebarang spekulasi berkaitan tragedi serangan di balai polis di Ulu Tiram, Johor, pada Jumaat.