Saturday 11 June 2016 11:33, UK
Dimitri Payet's masterclass against Romania highlighted his importance to the tournament favourites...
West Ham fans have been taunting their opposition with chants of "we've got Payet" all season. France supporters will be singing a similar song after his match-winning wonder-strike against Romania in the opening game of Euro 2016.
The midfielder - one of the Premier League's brightest stars in 2015/16 - delivered a masterclass at the Stade de France and his 89th-minute moment of magic set him apart as the best player on the pitch.
With the hosts facing a frustrating draw with resolute Romania, Payet stepped up and delivered. Nudging the ball into the path of his weaker left-foot, the 29-year-old struck a sweet, curling shot beyond goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.
When you can bang it into the top corner, it solves a lot of problems.
It was a goal befitting the occasion - but the type of spectacular strike Payet is making his trademark. "It is quite easy when you can bang it into the top corner, it solves a lot of problems," joked France boss Didier Deschamps after the game.
Payet had already won acclaim for his swerving free-kicks against Manchester United, Russia and Cameroon but they pale into insignificance compared to Friday night's effort.
Substituted in the final moments, the tears in Payet's eyes highlighted the importance of the occasion and what it meant to the player to deliver for his country in an emotionally charged Euro 2016 opener.
"I have no doubts over Dimitri and the influence he can have on the game," added Deschamps. "He can make the difference. It is very important to start with a victory."
That victory secures France three points and, given the generous qualifying route out of the group phase, puts them well on course for the knockout phase. But the win will also have meant much more to a country gripped by security scares and seeking inspiration from its football team.
Payet was his side's spark throughout the contest. Linking up brilliantly with the impressive Paul Pogba, Payet slipped into pockets of space between the high press of the Romania backline and the opposition midfield trying to close down his talented team-mate from Juventus.
From there Payet threaded through balls and clipped crosses into the box, repeatedly testing and teasing Romania's defence. Opta recorded eight Payet passes leading directly to an effort on goal. No other player on the pitch managed more than three key passes.
Olivier Giroud must particularly relish playing alongside his Premier League colleague. The Arsenal striker should have opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time when he headed over Payet's pinpoint corner and contrived to shoot straight at the goalkeeper when put through on goal at the start of the second half.
The forward finally found the net on 57 minutes when he nodded home another Payet centre.
Allied with his late winner, that pass takes Payet's contribution in his past four internationals to three goals and two assists. That's some return for a player not even in the France squad at the start of this season.
At the start of the season, a lot of people would have found it hard to believe I would be here. I have got here by working hard.
There could - should - have been more assists to his name, too. As well as Giroud, Pogba and Antoine Griezmann were guilty of failing to finish off openings crafted by the West Ham playmaker. They will have to be more clinical in future fixtures if France are to match their billing as tournament favourites.
But, with Payet in the side, those chances will more than likely keep coming their way. And, as he showed on Friday, he has the ability to conjure up a decisive strike himself, anyway.
"He's better than Zidane" goes another line of that West Ham song. France fans will settle for Payet driving their team to the final at this stadium in a month's time - just as Zinedine Zidane did at the World Cup in 1998.
