Saturday cover: Euro 2016 kicks off in France


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The National's Sport cover for the Saturday, June 11 issue, featuring the scene at the Stade de France as the curtain was raised on Euro 2016.

Dimitri Payet's 89th-minute winner delivered a thrilling three points for France in the opener against Romania. Read Richard Jolly on how the West Ham United man continues to specialise in the spectacular:

“Just as France’s opening night threatened to end in anti-climax, salvation came in the form of quality.

“A rifled, rising 89th-minute shot from the playmaker secured victory. The man from the island of Reunion allowed a country to rejoice. He departed the Stade de France in tears of joy.

“His was a strike of beauty, a moment that perhaps proved Didier Deschamps first very wrong and then very right.”

More Euro 2016

• Full coverage: Visit The National's dedicated Euro 2016 microsite

• Complete guide: Previews, fixtures, predictions and more

• In pictures: Dimitri Payet and Olivier Giroud spring France to front

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