Another match and France have yet to give a convincing performance to give the nation confidence that they can do them proud and win the trophy on home soil. Deschamps still hasn't gotten the formation right, and it was seen by how there was no flow in the passing. But, despite the mishaps and the confusion, a shining light still burned bright as it did in the opening game.
Dmitri Payet.
I think France need to accept that it's not Pogba or Griezmann who are the most important to their chances of winning the Euros, but it's this man. Payet has taken a hold of this team and looks to be that player that come rain or sunshine, will continue to push the team forward and provide the creative ingenuity to unlock the walls of the sturdiest defence.
Everything he touched came to gold. He knew when to dribble, when to pass and always made the right pass. Even if it may have been intercepted, the idea was right. He was the one player on the pitch who was just that level above everyone else on the pitch, just like with Hamsik when the Slovaks played Russia. There are just players who have a touch that is on another plane of existence than the other mortals around them.
If Deschamps is smart, he needs to take him aside and tell him that this is his team now. He has to take responsibility for owning the pressure of an entire nation. So when they are in trouble, the ball has to always come to him. Pogba, Martial, Kante, Matuidi must try and look for him in space with the intention of him trying to make something happen.
For all of Zizou's godly talents, he had a superb mentality and nothing fazed him.
He laughed in the face of pressure and lead the team with arrogant exuberance.
Payet must follow in those daunting footsteps because the nation needs a leader and a hero, and Dmtri must step up and take up that mantle. HH
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