- Dimitri Payet hit crossbar with sensational volley against Switzerland on Sunday evening
- West Ham United star came close to scoring in third straight UEFA Euro 2016 match
- Payet says he should have scored from Moussa Sissoko's deep cross
The West Ham United star caught the eye yet again in Lille, where he was sent on as a second-half substitute after being rested from the starting XI by coach Didier Deschamps.
Despite only being on the pitch for half-an-hour, Payet picked up where he left off in goalscoring appearances against Romania and Albania, capping his cameo by slamming Moussa Sissoko’s deep cross against the underside of Yann Sommer’s crossbar.
While most players would have been pleased to have come so close to completing such an outrageous piece of skill, the Hammers hero was hard on himself in self-analysis, claiming he should have scored in his third consecutive Euro 2016 match.
On my chance, Moussa Sissoko did superbly along the right wing and he put in a good ball for me. I should have buried it in the back of the net
“On my chance, Moussa Sissoko did superbly along the right wing and he put in a good ball for me,” Payet recalled in speaking to L’Equipe. “I should have buried it in the back of the net.”
Despite Payet’s unfortunate miss, France topped Group A and now have a week to prepare for their round of 16 fixture, which will see them take on the third-place finisher in Group C, D or E – potentially Northern Ireland or Darren Randolph’s Republic of Ireland – in Lyon next Sunday afternoon at 2pm BST.
With a week to prepare for that match, Payet says France need to continue playing the way they did in the first half against the Swiss, when central midfielder Paul Pogba took the game by the scruff of the neck and twice hit the woodwork himself with long-range efforts.
“We need to keep in mind how we played during the first half,” Payet confirmed. “We played freely and were getting stronger and stronger. In the first half we played well. Then, in the second half, both teams took their foot off the pedal so that they wouldn’t concede.
“We have now got a week to work hard ahead of our next game”
?Elsewhere at Euro 2016, James Collins will hope to make his first appearance of the finals when Wales take on Russia in Toulouse on Monday evening at 8pm BST. Victory for the Welsh would take them through to the knockout stages for the second time in their history.
Despite Payet’s unfortunate miss, France topped Group A and now have a week to prepare for their round of 16 fixture, which will see them take on the third-place finisher in Group C, D or E – potentially Northern Ireland or Darren Randolph’s Republic of Ireland – in Lyon next Sunday afternoon at 2pm BST.
With a week to prepare for that match, Payet says France need to continue playing the way they did in the first half against the Swiss, when central midfielder Paul Pogba took the game by the scruff of the neck and twice hit the woodwork himself with long-range efforts.
“We need to keep in mind how we played during the first half,” Payet confirmed. “We played freely and were getting stronger and stronger. In the first half we played well. Then, in the second half, both teams took their foot off the pedal so that they wouldn’t concede.
“We have now got a week to work hard ahead of our next game”
?Elsewhere at Euro 2016, James Collins will hope to make his first appearance of the finals when Wales take on Russia in Toulouse on Monday evening at 8pm BST. Victory for the Welsh would take them through to the knockout stages for the second time in their history.