Dimitri Payet's spectacular late winner gave hosts France victory over Romania in the opening match of Euro 2016 amid a huge security operation at the Stade de France.
On an emotional evening at the same venue where suicide bombers struck in the November attacks that killed 130 people across the city, Payet ensured the game ended on a high note with a sensational 30-yard strike.
France, who triumphed in their last two major tournaments on home soil - Euro '84 and the 1998 World Cup - are favourites to win this time too.
But after hitting the post early on through an Antoine Griezmann header, they struggled to find any fluency against a resolute Romania side, who also created good chances.
Les Bleus' star-studded attack had to wait until the 58th minute to make the breakthrough, when Olivier Giroud headed home Payet's cross.
Romania responded within seven minutes, with Bogdan Stancu scoring from the spot after Patrice Evra clipped Nicolae Stanciu inside the area.
A draw looked the most likely outcome until Payet capped a brilliant individual display with his wonder goal in the 89th minute.
The West Ham star apart, the hosts' performance was unconvincing but, for the whole of the France, the result mattered far more.
The perfect start for France
France have won all six of the European Championship finals matches on home turf (five in 1984, one in 2016)
A win was the perfect start to a month of football which, it is hoped, can help to bring together a fractured country that will remain under a state of emergency for the duration of the competition.
The scale of the police presence outside the Stade de France on Friday was obvious, with two separate checkpoints where fans were searched and tickets checked, but the day passed without any serious security incidents in Paris.
Inside the stadium, the mood was set by a colourful opening ceremony followed by a stirring rendition of 'La Marseillaise' before kick-off but the game itself was far less entertaining.
Payet proves he is a star performer
Dimitri Payet made seven key passes (yellow) and one assist (blue) as well as his winning goal
Paul Pogba was billed as the star of this France team but it was Payet who was the outstanding performer against Romania.
This game will be remembered for his winning goal but he was also behind almost all of Frances's best moments going forward.
Before setting up Giroud's goal, he put chances on a plate for the Arsenal striker and Griezmann but both missed the target.
He made no such mistake himself but was overwhelmed with emotion soon afterwards, and was substituted in tears.
"At the start of the season, a lot of people would have found it hard to believe I would be here," said Payet after the game.
"I have got here by working hard. When I saw the stadium tonight I knew I was going to have fun."
Euro 2016: Dimitri Payet scores stunning French winner
Why did France's other players fail to shine?
Antoine Griezmann's record at the Stade de France with France is: 603 minutes, nine games, no goals
Credit must go to Romania, who showed why they had the best defensive record in qualifying, but some France players were worryingly flat.
Pogba had a volley well saved by Ciprian Tatarusanu but failed to get his foot on the ball in midfield - and his side lacked a player who could dictate play from deep.
N'Golo Kante put in the kind of all-action display we are used to seeing from him for Leicester but, one swinging crossfield ball apart, did not open Romania up.
On top of the lack of balance in midfield, France were worryingly open at the back.
Their makeshift central defensive partnership of Adil Rami and Laurent Koscielny has played only two games together before this tournament and it showed.
Hugo Lloris rescued them with a brilliant early save from Stancu but better sides than Romania will be more ruthless in front of goal.
Man of the match - Dimitri Payet (France)
Dimitri Payet is the first French player to score and provide an assist in one European finals game since Thierry Henry in 2000 (vs Czech Republic)
France manager Didier Deschamps said recently that "every time he touches the ball, something happens" and the West Ham star proved him right.
He was behind all of Les Bleus' best moments and looked like the only player capable of opening up Romania.
What they said
France manager Didier Deschamps: "It was a tricky match. Romania made it complicated - for the first 20-25 minutes we had a tough time of it. The opening match of a tournament is like playing in a cup final and we were a bit timid.
"But I put four attacking players on to go for the win and I am delighted for the players that they got it."
Former France striker Thierry Henry on BBC Radio 5 live: "Dimitri Payet thought he was going to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He was involved in every qualifying game but they took that away from him.
"Tonight you saw a man who was hurt. He was saying with that performance 'you didn't take me to the World Cup and I am going to show you'. He wanted every single ball. You can't win a game by yourself. but that strike... oh my gosh.
"No one is going to take what is happening to him now away from him. He showed tremendous desire. He was the one that drove the team forward."
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“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself and in no instance bypass the discriminations of reason? You have been given the principles that you ought to endorse, and you have endorsed them. What kind of teacher, then, are you still waiting for in order to refer your self-improvement to him? You are no longer a boy, but a full-grown man. If you are careless and lazy now and keep putting things off and always deferring the day after which you will attend to yourself, you will not notice that you are making no progress, but you will live and die as someone quite ordinary.
From now on, then, resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside. And whenever you encounter anything that is difficult or pleasurable, or highly or lowly regarded, remember that the contest is now: you are at the Olympic Games, you cannot wait any longer, and that your progress is wrecked or preserved by a single day and a single event. That is how Socrates fulfilled himself by attending to nothing except reason in everything he encountered. And you, although you are not yet a Socrates, should live as someone who at least wants to be a Socrates.” ― Epictetus
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