France vs Romania team news: Olivier Giroud, Dimirti Payet and N’Golo Kante start for Euro 2016 opener

Team news from the Stade de France ahead of the opening match of Euro 2016

Olivier Giroud (Getty)

Didier Deschamps has named Premier League regulars Olivier Giroud, Dimirti Payet and N’Golo Kante among his starting line-up to face Romania in the opening match of the European Championship.

Antoine Griezmann, considered by many as one of the likely contenders to shine this summer, starts in midfield while Manchester United target Paul Pogba also features in a strong side at the Stade de France.

Juventus full-back Patrice Evra is handed a start in Paris on the opposite side of defence to Bacary Sagna with Laurent Koscielny and Adil Rami in the centre.

Hugo Lloris is trusted with goalkeeping duties, as expected, after a fine season with Tottenham Hotspur.

Romania meanwhile have Florin Andone up front while former Spurs defender Vlad Chiriches is one name who British audiences are most likely to recognise in Anghel Iordanescu’s side.

The football has been overshadowed by national security threats, accusations of racism, sex-tape blackmail plots involving star players, late injuries to key squad members but France hope to put that all to the back of their minds tonight.

Teams...

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

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