EURO2016

Germany start strong at Euro 2016

RNZI reports the Germans, eyeing their fourth Euro title and their first since 1996, opened the scoring when central defender Mustafi, starting in place of the injured Mats Hummels, rose high to head in a pinpoint Toni Kroos free kick in the 19th minute.

Joachim Loew's men, who also lost central defender Antonio Ruediger to injury earlier this week, were far from convincing and had keeper Manuel Neuer to thank for producing a string of superb one-handed saves in the first half.

Substitute Schweinsteiger then made sure of victory when he scored from close range late on.

France beat Romania 2-1 in nail-biting Euro 2016 opener

Payet was France's standout performer all night. His cross also created the opener for Olivier Giroud before Bogdan Stancu's penalty looked to have handed Romania a point.

However, the mercurial West Ham playmaker produced a moment of brilliance as he smashed the ball into the top corner to ensure France's month-long festival of football got off to a flier.