No1 Payet set for Swiss showdown

  • Dimitri Payet and France face Switzerland in Euro 2016 Group A finale on Sunday
  • Payet goes into game ranked No1 in UEFA.com Player Barometer
  • West Ham United star has two goals and an assist in France's opening two matches
Dimitri Payet goes into Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2016 Group A finale against Switzerland ranked as the continent’s best player.

The West Ham United star has dominated the headlines with two goals and two man of the match-winning performances to fire France through to the round of 16 with a game to spare.

Those outstanding displays against Romania and Albania have seen the Hammers midfielder rise to the top of UEFA.com’s Player Barometer – a position he has held since 10 June!

The Player Barometer uses data considered important for each player specific to their position. For example, successful passes, key passes and crosses are core stats for an attacking midfielder like Payet.

The Barometer algorithm uses Payet’s stats from all matches, both for West Ham and France, and updates after each match played. During UEFA EURO 2016, the rankings have been updated during every match, with the Hammer leading the way for the past eight days.

An assessment of Payet’s form reads: “Payet received his second man of the match award after another inventive display in which he doubled the hosts' lead.

“Forty-one of his 54 passes found their target, 22 of them in the final third. The former Marseille playmaker troubled Albania with set pieces and conjured six chances for team-mates in Les Bleus’ 2-0 win. Over the 90 minutes at Stade Vélodrome, he supplied an impressive 17 crosses.”

It remains to be seen if Payet will start France’s final group-stage game against the Swiss in Lyon, with Didier Deschamps’ side needing to draw to guarantee a first-place finish and, in theory, an easier round of 16 fixture.

The Group A winners will face the third-place finisher in either Group C, D or E – potentially Northern Ireland, Czech Republic or Darren Randolph’s Republic of Ireland, as things stand.

You can watch France versus Switzerland live on BBC One from 8pm BST.