Dimitri Payet was full of pride after firing France to victory over Cameroon with another fantastic free-kick on Monday evening.
Les Bleus had been pegged back twice in Nantes before Payet clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory by curling past Fabrice Ondoa from fully 30 yards.
Payet’s winner was his SIXTH successful direct free-kick of the season and his second in consecutive matches for the UEFA Euro 2016 hosts, following another sensational effort against Russia in March.
The West Ham United midfielder, who looks set to start the tournament opener against Romania next Friday, was delighted to make another decisive contribution for his country and France supporters.
“It’s always important to win, especially in front of your own fans,” Payet told FFF tv. “We saw at the end just what it meant to them and they supported us during a difficult match against a tough opposition.
"It is nice to win and there are, of course, things that could be better and we have the time to make those changes.”
Les Bleus had been pegged back twice in Nantes before Payet clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory by curling past Fabrice Ondoa from fully 30 yards.
Payet’s winner was his SIXTH successful direct free-kick of the season and his second in consecutive matches for the UEFA Euro 2016 hosts, following another sensational effort against Russia in March.
The West Ham United midfielder, who looks set to start the tournament opener against Romania next Friday, was delighted to make another decisive contribution for his country and France supporters.
“It’s always important to win, especially in front of your own fans,” Payet told FFF tv. “We saw at the end just what it meant to them and they supported us during a difficult match against a tough opposition.
"It is nice to win and there are, of course, things that could be better and we have the time to make those changes.”
It was a pretty good one because it was really one for a left-footer. I need to see the replay again, but I am pretty pleased with it
“I wasn’t that far out, but at the same time I was quite far out, so I didn’t know whether I should cross it or not,” Payet revealed. “Patrice (Evra) told me to have a go and I saw the goalkeeper try to move early to one side, so I tried to put it into the other corner and it hit the post and went in.
“It was a pretty good one because it was really one for a left-footer. I need to see the replay again, but I am pretty pleased with it.”
For the player himself, the goal and victory were even more special as they came at the Stade de la Beaujoir, where he began his professional career with Nantes between 2005 and 2007.
“It was special for me to come back here to this stadium, where I spent two beautiful seasons,” he explained. “And I was happy to feel the fans get behind us.”
France’s victory came on the back of a 4-2 win over the Russians in Paris and 3-2 victory against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, setting Didier Deschamps’ squad up perfectly for Euro 2016.
“They equalised twice in the game so to score the third goal is great. In the last three games we have scored quite a few a goals and so that is something to be pleased with.
“You don’t want to use everything up at once, but it is good for us to leave here confident and when you win, it’s always better for the recovery and the morale in the camp.”
“It was a pretty good one because it was really one for a left-footer. I need to see the replay again, but I am pretty pleased with it.”
For the player himself, the goal and victory were even more special as they came at the Stade de la Beaujoir, where he began his professional career with Nantes between 2005 and 2007.
“It was special for me to come back here to this stadium, where I spent two beautiful seasons,” he explained. “And I was happy to feel the fans get behind us.”
France’s victory came on the back of a 4-2 win over the Russians in Paris and 3-2 victory against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, setting Didier Deschamps’ squad up perfectly for Euro 2016.
“They equalised twice in the game so to score the third goal is great. In the last three games we have scored quite a few a goals and so that is something to be pleased with.
“You don’t want to use everything up at once, but it is good for us to leave here confident and when you win, it’s always better for the recovery and the morale in the camp.”