Dimitri Payet was a major doubt to even be included in France’s Euro 2016 squad not so long ago, but his set-piece prowess could be the key to a successful summer.
The former Marseille playmaker has been a revelation for West Ham this season, taking the Premier League by storm, and has at last earned the trust of Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps.
Payet repaid that faith with a stunning free-kick against Cameroon to seal victory in Monday’s pre-tournament warm-up match, ending France’s free-kick woes in the process.
Dimitri Payet scored this free-kick for France this evening. Incredible. https://t.co/730ihYvXYY
— Claret and Blue Army (@WestHamBlood) May 30, 2016
Incredibly, Deschamps’ side have scored three free-kicks in their last three games, but needed a massive 152 games previously to reach that same figure.
Payet’s set-piece delivery has even earned comparisons with legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane, with French publication L’Equipe particularly effusive in their praise.
“There can no longer be any doubt: he’s the first real free-kick taker in the France national team since Zidane,” claimed the paper after his latest devilish set-piece.
MORE: England’s final Euro 2016 squad announced – Marcus Rashford IN, Danny Drinkwater OUT
Who is the best free-kick taker in the world?
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Dimitri Payet
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Miralem Pjanic
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Christian Eriksen
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Gareth Bale
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Hakan Calhanoglu
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Cristiano Ronaldo
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Willian
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Lionel Messi
