An impressive victory for France on Friday night and a game and an occasion that will live long in the memory of all those who were here.

At 7.30pm local time, with the sky a murderous black and the rain cascading down, there seemed no chance of getting a football match on at all.

Delight: Jeremy Menez is mobbed after opening the scoring for France

UEFA's Euro 2012 planning looked on the verge of meltdown courtesy of a thunderstorm that had forced these teams from the field after only four minutes of play.

But, astonishingly, the pitch at the terrific Donbass Arena withstood the deluge and we had a contest. A super game it was, too.

With both teams playing football that always looked likely to produce goals, France secured the lead courtesy of a strike from winger Jeremy Menez eight minutes into the second half. They built on it with an equally well-worked effort from the terrific Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye a few minutes later.

Ukraine had their chances, too, and were impressively ambitious and gutsy, even when chasing the game late on. They will be no easy opposition for England when the teams meet back here again on Tuesday night.

This, however, was a victory France thoroughly deserved on a night when all of their attacking players impressed.

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