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Bogdan Stancu converted a second half penalty to threaten to spoil the hosts' party before Payet's late stunner at the Stade de France
They say a tournament only truly comes to life if the hosts perform on the field. The banners and billboards are all well and good, but interest levels can fade a touch if the home team doesn't hang around. It's a question of emotional investment.
France, perhaps more than any other country, give good host. Twice they have staged major tournaments in 'Le Hexagone'; twice they have emerged victorious.
It is quite the record, but on the evidence of their first statement at Euro 2016, they'll need to improve a touch to extend the sequence.
Les Bleus looked sluggish in their Group A opener and needed a rescue act from the brilliant Dimitri Payet, who slammed home a late, late winner after Bogdan Stancu had cancelled out Olivier Giroud's header.
Here are six things we learned
1. Payet saves France
Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba had been tipped as the most likely talismen for France this summer, but they were royally overshadowed here by Payet.
The West Ham playmaker ran the show for France, wondering on off the left to spray passes around before reemerging on the flank to cross. He set up fine chances for Giroud, Griezmann and Bacary Sagna before finally getting the reward for his creativity when Giroud nodded his cross past Ciprian Tatarusanu for the opening goal.
He then clattered home a gorgeous winner with his weaker foot to spare France's blushes in the dying minutes. The pre-tournament dilemma between him and Anthony Martial is no longer up for debate. The home fans have a new hero.
2. France fall flat on big night
It wasn't meant to be like this. 80,000 fans packed into the Stade de France. A nation desperate for a victory to kickstart what many suspect could be another glorious summer for French football. A unified, talented team with a national hero for a manager. Everything was set up.
This was only one game, of course, and Les Bleus can bounce back. But this was a disappointing way to kick off the tournament and a performance that raised far more questions than it answered.
Is Giroud the answer in attack? Why didn't Griezmann turn up? How did the midfield get bypassed so easily? What is the point of Adil Rami?
Thank goodness for Payet, who dragged them over the line almost single-handedly.
3. Underestimate Romania at your peril
After the flimsy fanfare of the opening ceremony, it was Romania who made the more commanding start. Hugo Lloris had to be alert to thwart Stancu and Florin Andone went agonisingly close with a looping header.
That was a wake-up call for France but Romania were not done there, making this a testing night for Deschamps' men. Their defence, so strong during qualifying, was well organised, but it was also notable just how many men Romania committed to attacks after winning the ball back. Their two central midfielders took turns to bomb forward and right-back Cristian Sapunaru stretched his legs to broaden their options.
Their best moments came through rookie playmaker Nicolae Stanciu, who buzzed about with intent and whipped in some glorious dead balls. He only made his debut in March but has scored four goals in his first six Romania games and it was he who won the penalty.
Switzerland and Albania beware: Anghel Iordanescu's side are clearly not just here to make up the numbers.
4. Pogba relaxed but underwhelming
Before the match, Pogba had the look of a man ready to take this tournament by the scruff of the neck. During the warm-up, most players were stony-faced, deep in thought about the 90 minutes ahead. Even the brow of Patrice Evra, who has been around the block a few times, was furrowed.
Pogba looked like he was walking to the park for a kick-around with his friends. He waved to love ones, grinned and checked his hair up on the big screen. (It was impeccable, of course.) Any sense of pressure or apprehension – understandable feelings before such a big game – was entirely absent, leaving only the boyish excitement of a 23-year-old going out there to show the world what he can do.
Greatness has many metrics, but that immunity to circumstance will serve him well in the years ahead.
It did not translate into a performance of any great quality here, however. There was a shot from distance and a cheeky flick on halfway early on, but Pogba struggled to influence the game from central midfield and found himself bypassed at times as Payet tucked in to run the match. He will be eying an improvement against Albania.
5. Excitement eclipses fear factor in Paris
Much has been made of the security measures put in place for this competition in the wake of November's devastating terror attacks in Paris. There was certainly an increased police presence in the city centre on Friday, especially near train stations and on the approach to the stadium, nestled modestly in the northern sprawl of the Saint-Denis banlieu.
For all that, the atmosphere throughout the day was jovial, with no tangible sense of unease around the ground. Security checks before entry onto the concourse were tight but not a huge step up from the usual drill. Police dogs swept the press rooms before kick-off, but volunteers and staff were accommodating and broadly relaxed.
This, of course, is exactly how it should be. But it was nonetheless pleasign to seei fans mingling happily ahead of kick-off, children excitedly gazing up at the stadium, friends bickering happily over their expectations for the tournament. Even in these testing times, terror cannot dim sport's fire.
6. La Marseillaise is beyond reproach
Seriously, all the other anthems may as well just call it a day and go to the pub.
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