FRANCE lived up to their pre tournament billing as Euro 96 title contenders with a sparkling display to beat Romania at St James' Park last night.

Aime Jacquet's squad, who completed their championship preparations with a 23 match unbeaten run, gave an exhibition style performance to dispel any doubts over their selection policy following the omissions of Eric Cantona and David Ginola from their 22 man squad.

Christophe Dugarry's 23rd minute header was enough to seal three points, and establish them as Group B leaders, but it could have been a much more emphatic victory as Romania's defence was ripped apart time and time again.

Even the special talents of Romania captain Gheorghe Hagi failed to stem the French tide.

Yet it was Romania who began the brighter and forced the highly organised French side on to the defensive. Striker Marius Lacatus linked with Hagi at the edge of the box before forcing the first save of the match from Bernard Lama.

Lama also had to be sharp to keep out a Hagi free kick, but while he remained alert Bulgarian goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea made a fatal mistake to gift France the lead.

Stelea ran out to the edge of the box attempting to intercept Youri Djorkaeff's cross to the advancing Dugarry. But Stelea and defender Gheorghe Mihali were outjumped by Dugarry, who has chosen to join AC Milan from Bordeaux at the end of the championships instead of accepting a more lucrative offer from Blackburn, and the French marksman's header looped into the empty net.

If French coach Jacquet feared he may get a hostile reception after leaving out Newcastle hero Ginola, his side soon won the crowd over with a scintillating display.

Defender Vincent Guerin joined the attack and linked with Djorkaeff, who in turn fed Didier Deschamps and his volley flashed just wide of the target.

The Romanians looked clearly crest fall en after the interval - and the French took advantage with a superb display of passing and movement which lit up the tournament.

Inspirational captain Deschamps twice went close, while Dugarry kept Stelea on his toes with a stinging volley from just outside the box.

Hagi rallied his side towards the end band Lama was forced into a brave save as loan Lupescu closed in.

It was France's first victory in the finals of a European Championship since winning the title on home soil 12 years ago against Spain. It was also only Dugarry's second international goal.