West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet has said that he is proud of his spectacular winner in France’s last-minute 3-2 victory over Cameroon.
Leave the best until last
Blaise Matuidi opened the scoring at the Stade de la Beaujoir which was canceled out by Vincent Aboubakar before Oliver Giroud restored the lead for Didier Deschamp’s side before the break.
Eric Choupo-Moting looked to have a secured a draw for the African side with his 88th minute equaliser but it was Payet who had the final with his 30-yard free kick curling past the helpless Fabrice Ondoa.
Proud moment
That goal was Payet’s sixth goal from a direct free kick this season and second consecutive for his country having scored against Russia back in March. The 29-year-old is expected to start next week in the opening game of Euro 2016 against Romania and he spoke of his delight after the game to make a significant contribution to his country.
Payet told FFF TV that it is “always important” to win especially when the game is in front of “your own fans” and that at the end of the game he "saw what the victory meant to them” and they supported the team in a “difficult match” against “tough opposition.”
He continued saying that it is “nice to win” but admitted that some things “could be better” and that they have the time to “make those changes” and that it is was good to leave the game “confident” and the victory is for the better of their “recovery” and “morale in the camp.”
Special occasion
It proved a perfect evening for Payet with his spectacular goal coming in his old stomping ground having spent two years at the Stade de la Beaujoir with Nantes between 2005 and 2007 where he began his career and described the special occasion.
Payet said that it was a “pretty good” free-kick and that he was “pretty pleased” with his effort and it was “special” for him to return to the stadium where it all began where he spent "two beautiful season's" and was happy to feel the fans get behind the team.