There have been some pretty good players at the Euros, but no one has been more consistent and stood out more than Dimitri Payet. He is for me, the undoubted best player so far, and has been one of the main reasons why France have looked good, and may be the one man who can be decisive in winning them the competition on their patch.
What has made Payet stand out is the fact that something positive always seems to happen whenever he gets the ball at his feet. A piece of skill, a critical run into space, an inventive pass that moves the team forward. You feel the sense of the French players wanting to give him the ball whenever they can, urging him to create a situation that can blossom into the perfect chance for a goal.
It all started with that performance against Romania when things were not going France's way and Payet just kept it going, doing the skills and getting on the ball at every chance. Then came that late goal that won the game for France and propelled him from West Ham folk hero, to a national talisman, and he's not looked back since.
He's continued to be the star man for France. While Pogba and Griezmann have slowly grown into becoming more formidable, Payet started on the ground running and has kept that momentum and has yet to have a game where he's been under-par or underperformed. That has been something Deschamps has been thankful for because despite the tactical problems he's had all tournament, having Payet in the team helps to mask that.
There's a possibility of two more games for Payet to solidify himself as the definitive player of the tournament. The next will be his toughest challenge against the world champions and he knows that he'll have to play his best game against a very difficult team. He also realises that his team will need him more than ever to show the leadership he's already portrayed, but to take it to an even higher level with a greater brand of football.
Like it or not, Payet has taken up the Zidane role of this team. Just like how Zidane was at the center of all that was creative about France going forward, Payet has been tasked with doing the same. He's the creative jewel, and he must embrace that.
Very few people in the history of the game compare to Zidane, so for me to even mention him in the same sentence as Zizou is a huge compliment. He's got a long way from being in the same category of greatness as the legend, but this could be a watershed moment in his late career. Just needs to keep it going, and carry France all the way.
Dimitri Jeremiah Payet...take hold of a nation's hopes and deliver them to the Promised Land. HH
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