Euro 2016: Portugal vs France - 5 Players to watch out for

#4 Dimitri Payet

If there was an award for the best player in the initial stages of Euro 2016, Payet would be the odds-on favourite to win it. Having almost single-handedly inspired France through the group stages, Payet quickly became the focal point of their creative impetus. In their quarter-final encounter, Payet scored one of the goals of the tournament, against Iceland, which effectively ended the match on the night. That goal among others including the fabulous strike against Romania sees Payet as a favourite to clinch the goal of the tournament.

Payet brings an all-round attacking threat to the team, with acute passes of deadly accuracy, a brilliant shot on both feet and clever movement to befuddle opposition defenders. Although Payet was a shade of his usual self against the Germans, it was expected as the Germans were of a far more superior quality in defence and midfield, than any other opposition faced by France till then.

Against Portugal, however, Payet will look to enjoy a much freer role than he had against the Germans. He most definitely will come up against a far more inferior midfield and defence, as the likes of Renato Sanches and Adrien Silva are not renowned for their tackling and tracking back abilities.