France 4-2 Russia: N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet score on their birthdays

There were birthday celebrations for both N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet who were among the goalscorers as Euro 2016 hosts France beat Russia 4-2 in Paris.

The match was played at the Stade de France which will stage the opening fixture of the tournament on June 10 - between France and Romania - as well as the final 30 days later.

Stade de France was also the venue targeted by suicide bombers last November when three people died, and many more were injured, following blasts outside the stadium while France and Germany were playing a friendly international.

And, in front of 65,000 spectators, Leicester midfielder Kante wasted no time in celebrating his 25th birthday by netting his first international goal in the eighth minute, as he was put through by Antoine Griezmann before locating the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

It was 2-0 seven minutes before the break when Griezmann was once again the provider, with his corner headed home by Andre-Pierre Gignac.

Aleksandr Kokorin reduced the deficit on 57 minutes, as he latched on to Alan Dzagoev's free kick, before Payet - who turned 29 on Tuesday - scored his team's third goal just two minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The West Ham playmaker conjured up a brilliant 30-yard free-kick which flew into the top corner of the net in the 64th minute.

Yuri Zhirkov's low strike brought the 2018 World Cup hosts back into the game only for another substitute, Kingsley Coman, to restore France's two goal lead 14 minutes from time with a rising shot from Payet's assist.

France coach Didier Deschamps was quick to praise Kante after the game.

"He is a little chap who is always smiling. The squad have done everything to help him settle in and he has shown no complexes out on the field," said Deschamps.

"It is not easy on your first start but he did some very good things. It is interesting. It doesn't mean those who didn't play don't have qualities, but he has carried on at international level what he has been doing with his club."

Payet said: "It is a beautiful birthday present. The free-kick was my first touch. I don't know if I scored points tonight. I just try to perform as well as possible.

"If I don't go to the Euros of course I will be disappointed, like any player."