Hosts France will kick-off the 2016 European Championship when they face Romania on Friday evening in Paris. Here football.co.uk takes a look at how the French have fared in previous opening matches at major tournaments.
World Cup Mexico 1930
The opening two matches took place simultaneously and while the United States beat Belgium, the first ever World Cup goal was scored by Lucien Laurent as France sank hosts Mexico 4-1.
World Cup Italy 1934
Another opening match of sorts as all eight first-round games kicked off at the same time. France exited the tournament immediately courtesy of a 3-2 extra-time defeat by Austria in Turin.
World Cup Switzerland 1954
This time four group matches kicked off at the same time and France were beaten 1-0 by Yugoslavia. A subsequent win over Mexico was not enough to prevent them exiting at the group stage.
European Championship France 1960
France opened the inaugural four-team tournament on the wrong end of a nine-goal thriller as Yugoslavia twice came back from a two-goal deficit to run out 5-4 winners in Paris.
European Championship France 1984
Michel Platini's goal was enough to beat Denmark and send the hosts on their way to a first major international title. Platini went on to score nine goals including one in the final against Spain.
European Championship Sweden 1992
Jean-Pierre Papin's second-half equaliser silenced the hosts on opening night after Sweden failed to build on Jan Eriksson's early goal. But France, along with England, did not get out of Group 1.
World Cup South Korea and Japan 2002
Debutants Senegal shocked champions France 1-0 thanks to Papa Bouba Diop's goal. A star-studded team including Marcel Desailly, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry finished bottom of Group A.
Source: PA-WIRE
