Crossbar denies Dimi three out of three

  • Dimitri Payet hits crossbar as France draw 0-0 with Switzerland in Lille on Sunday
  • West Ham United star had scored in Les Bleus' opening two Euro 2016 matches
  • French top Group A and face third-place Group C, D or E finisher next weekend

West Ham United star Dimitri Payet was just the width of the crossbar away from making it three goals in three UEFA Euro 2016 appearances on Sunday evening.

The Hammer of the Year emerged from the substitutes’ bench to produce an eye-catching late cameo, hitting the underside of the bar with a sumptuous side foot volley as France were held from a goalless draw by Switzerland.

The result meant the French top Group A ahead of the Swiss, but they could have made it a perfect nine points from nine had Payet’s wonderful effort from Mousa Sissoko’s cross dipped a little more after flying past goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

The West Ham man was given a hero’s welcome on his return to Lille, where he spent two successful seasons playing alongside the likes of Eden Hazard and Joe Cole between 2011 and 2013.

His introduction lifted a competitive but largely uneventful game previously only lit up by two shots from Paul Pogba which also hit Sommer’s woodwork – the first after a handling error from the Switzerland stopper.

However, it was Payet’s volley at the end of a powerful 60-yard run from Newcastle United’s Sissoko which was the undoubted highlight – drawing widespread acclaim on social media.
 
Didier Deschamps’ side will 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.