Dimitri Payet's stunning late winner against
Romania in the opening game of Euro 2016 was redemption for the
"hurt" he has endured in his France career, says Thierry Henry.
The Euro 2016 hosts were set for a draw against
Romania when West Ham player Payet's sublime finish earned victory in the
tournament's opening game.
"Tonight you saw a man who was hurt,"
former France and Arsenal striker Henry told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He showed tremendous desire."
Payet provided the cross for Arsenal forward
Olivier Giroud to head France ahead before hitting a 30-yard finish after Bogdan
Stancu had equalised from the penalty spot for Romania.
The 29-year-old was in tears when he was
substituted to a standing ovation in stoppage time at the Stade de France.
Last October Payet described his exclusion from
the France squad as an "injustice".
"That tells you how much he wants to play
for France," added Henry, who helped France win the 1998 World Cup.
"He cried at the end of the game. He
thought he was going to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He was involved in every
qualifying game but they took that away from him.
"He was saying with that performance
against Romania 'you didn't take me to the World Cup and I am going to show
you'. He wanted every single ball.
"You can't win a game by yourself but that
strike... oh my gosh. He showed tremendous desire. He was the one that drove
the team forward."
'Hard work has got me here'
Payet said he was pinching himself after scoring
a winner that ensured France made a winning start in front of their own fans.
"At the start of the season, a lot of people
would have found it hard to believe I would be here," added the scorer of
nine goals in 30 Premier League appearances for West Ham in 2015-16.
"I have got here by working hard and want
to soak up the experience.
"When I saw the stadium tonight I knew I
was going to have fun.
"There was a lot of stress, a lot of
pressure. If someone had told me it would have gone like that I wouldn't have
believed it."
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