Kante: Nothing will come easy for France
Leicester City's France international N'Golo Kante says the side's tough 2-1 win over Romania proves Euro 2016 will be hard to win.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/92p8gE9GqmLoLRKdHrrmTF.jpg)
N'Golo Kante says France's 2-1 win over Romania in the Euro 2016 opener proves that there will be no easy games for the hosts.
France are listed among the serious favourites for the title, particularly with the tournament being played on their home soil, but they faced a resilient Romania to open their campaign.
The brilliance of Dimitri Payet, who scored a trademark stunner in the 89th minute, won them the game, and Kante said it was good for his side to face such a challenge from an unlikely opponent early on.
"The first opening match, it was not an easy game against a good team from Romania. It was important to win, we did tonight and that is the thing to remember," Kante said.
"We had no particular pressure. At the beginning of the game, they had chances, but we were able to react, we managed to score first and win. We have to continue because the other matches will not be easy.
"We know that this is a competition, it is not friendly matches, there will be nothing easy. The most important thing is the victory. We must now plan on the next game and play a better way.
"We knew it was going to be complicated, but this is a team that is confident and we demonstrated that today.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"First we will enjoy tonight and for the next matches, we'll try show a better face even if the win is the most important."
Kante was also keen to praise Payet, who he says has nothing to prove after a brilliant season in the Premier League with West Ham.
"Dimitri, we know him, he had a great season. Today he made an assist and scored a goal, we hope it will continue like that," the Leicester City star said.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack