NATIONAL TREASURE
Payet keeps the French dream alive as the going gets tough for Pogba
IT is impossible to overstate the Dimitri Payet effect.
As far as France is concerned, the West Ham striker has saved the day while others have wilted under the pressure of Euro 2016.
He was hailed as ‘a godsend’ by France Football after his second goal of the tournament.
Where would they be without him? That is the feeling. His brilliance has masked the deficiencies of the team.
This tournament was supposed to be the coming of age for young starlets such as Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba and yet both started the second game, against Albania, on the bench.
Griezmann came on to score but it was Pogba who has proved the subject of much debate after delivering a public ‘up-yours’ gesture in Marseilles during the celebrations following Payet’s goal.
It was unclear who is was aimed at — the fans and the press for their criticism or the decision to drop him from the team, and Pogba dismissed it as part of a dance he always does.
France boss Didier Deschamps insisted he was satisfied with the explanation. ‘I believe him and I believe his honesty,’ said Deschamps (below).
Pogba is set to return to the team against Switzerland today as France seek a third win to secure top spot in Group A.
Yohan Cabaye and Andre-Pierre Gignac could start, with Deschamps expected to rest N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud who are both one yellow card from a ban.
‘We are competitive individuals and it is important to top the group,’ said captain Hugo Lloris. ‘It is always tough to know who you will come up against later but when you have this status as favourites there are certain expectations.’
While Pogba toils and France waits for him to flourish and the team to find its fluency, there is Payet, who has continued his wonderful West Ham form.
For nine months from last summer until March, he was not selected by Deschamps and had all but given up on being part of Euro 2016. Now the France boss talks of putting him ‘on ice’ to keep him free from pressure.
‘We want to make sure nothing happens to him,’ said Deschamps.
‘As for the saviour, you might not have thought it would be Dimitri Payet but it has been. In matches, individuals make the difference and typically it is the attacking players.
‘What he has shown this season is consistent performances. He’s been able to produce a lot more.
‘He has always had this technical ability, right-foot, left-foot. Also he has gained in confidence. He now knows that the top level is very demanding.
‘In the matches, that’s when it’s important to come up with the goods and that’s happening now. I’m not going to complain about it.’
Payet’s sudden consistency, at the age of 29, will surprise fans of Lille as he returns to the Stade Pierre Mauroy where he played for two years.
He joined five years ago when they were champions — something of a coup as Lille beat Paris St Germain to sign him for £7million from Saint-Etienne. Payet, however, did not dazzle and supporters quickly lost patience. A bad game followed every good game, admitted his manager at the time, Rudi Garcia, and he was sold. In 2013, Marseilles paid £7.8m and something clicked under the instruction of Marcelo Bielsa.
His game advanced further in London under Slaven Bilic and he has looked a bargain buy for West Ham at £10.7m.
‘Patrice Evra told me playing in England would take my game to a new level, and he was right,’ said Payet. ‘It is the most competitive league in the world, every game you have to fight for.
‘I know I have become a better player at West Ham, and I have a lot to thank my coach and team-mates for. At the moment I would say I’m playing the best football of my career.
‘You could say I’ve matured as a player, and I think that is true, but also I am playing with a lot of confidence, which is always so important.
‘Last season with West Ham was my best ever, and all I want to do is stay on that form. It has definitely given me momentum.’
Payet’s impact at Euro 2016 has inevitably stirred interest from elsewhere.
Chelsea have been linked and Real Madrid, who love to make a tournament signing, are considering him as a replacement for James Rodriguez, himself signed after a sparkling World Cup, two years ago.
Thanks to Payet’s goals, France are already assured of a place in the last 16 but he will now be expected to fire the hosts towards the title.
‘There is pressure but we’re OK with that,’ said Payet. ‘We have an excellent team and we’re playing at home. Of course there will be pressure, we expected that.
‘Our aim is the same as the supporters, and that is to win the tournament.’