5 Truths: Euro 2016 belongs to Dimitri Payet, Granit Xhaka looks an absolute steal

It was only eight months ago that Dimitri Payet took to the French press to hit out at Didier Deschamps for omitting him from the squad for a friendly against Albania. “The national team, if it will only make me unhappy, then I do not want it”, Payet told L’Equipe. “For me, it is unjust not to be in the French squad”. If the West Ham man hadn’t already completed his unprecedented rise from outcast to outstanding hope for France’s home tournament before the 0-0 draw with Switzerland, he undoubtedly has now.

A largely forgettable affair was lit up the moment Payet connected exquisitely with Moussa Sissoko’s cross and saw his bullet effort ricochet off the underside of the crossbar, and whilst there was no goal for the former Marseille man tonight there can be little doubt that this is the player – more than Pogba, more than Griezmann – that has France rocking to its very foundations as Euro 2016 heads towards its business end. So often in the past the Euros have been defined by one player. Just as Van Basten, Platini and Arshavin have claimed tournaments past as their own, so too Payet has his sights on 2016.

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The purchase of Granit Xhaka is looking better by the game. A few eyebrows were raised when Arsenal splashed out £30 million on the 23-year-old ahead of the tournament. However, he has put in a succession of assured performances that suggest he may very well be the missing piece to the Arsenal jigsaw.

As one would expect of a Wenger signing, he is technically adroit with an eye for a pass. However, it is his ability to get to grips with the grubbier sides of the game that should excite Arsenal fans most. Put simply, he is a substantial upgrade on what the Gunners currently have in the middle of midfield.

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They had been waiting two and a half games for the goal, but finally persistence paid off. Albania began the match against Romania by carving out some great chances in the first half, yet couldn’t finish them. Gianni De Biasi’s men sliced open their opponents’ defence down their left flank, only for Ermir Lenjani to blaze over the bar from six yards. Then they worked a clever corner, where Migjen Basha was left unmarked at the top of the penalty box, only for his shot to go high and wide too.

So when it finally came, Armando Sadiku’s header got the celebration it deserved - a 50-metre dash towards the subs bench before the scorer was engulfed by his entire squad. After such bad luck against France, where they conceded two late goals, they deserved this breakthrough. It may not be enough to earn them a place in the last 16 – a negative goal difference and only three points might see to that - but at least their amazing fans got one moment of pure elation after so much endeavour, and a first ever European Championship goal.

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Romania crashed out of Euro 2016 with a whimper. They were outplayed by Albania, who were slicker, faster and more inventive. After going a goal down, most teams would be expecting a backlash. But none came.

Nicolae Stanciu was disappointing in the No 10 role and his team were restricted to long shots, and set-piece efforts until their one decent attempt from Florin Andone came back off the bar.

There are 20 places between these teams in the world rankings, but it was Anghel Iordănescu’s men who played like there were at No 42.

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France progressed from Group A as winners but they have undoubtedly flattered to deceive for much of the tournament. Both their wins – against relatively modest opposition in the shape of Albania and Romania – have relied on late goals. They could easily be sitting on three points instead of seven.

They have looked disjointed for large swathes thus far and Didier Deschamps' decision to once again ring the changes – he made five against Switzerland - makes no sense.

A run of games would do this France side a world of good, and allow them to grow into the tournament.