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West Ham’s Dimitri Payet must play for France in Euro 2016

By Rucker Haringey

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Dimitri Payetof West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal from a free kick during The Emirates FA Cup fifth round match between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United at Ewood park on February 21, 2016 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Dimitri Payetof West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal from a free kick during The Emirates FA Cup fifth round match between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United at Ewood park on February 21, 2016 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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West Ham star Dimitri Payet is simply too good not to play for France during Euro 2016

There comes a time when a player’s ability and form are simply too good for a national team to ignore. Despite issues with West Ham star Dimitri Payet’s personality and work ethic, he simply must play for France in Euro 2016.

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It’s time for everyone involved with the selection of France’s team for Euro 2016 to put personality conflicts and politics aside. Dimitri Payet is playing entirely too well to be in any danger of being left off his national team’s side. Unfortunately, there are serious rumblings emanating from France that Payet will be snubbed.

Extremely well-connected French journalist Julien Laurens, still believes that Payet will be left off the French squad for Euro 2016. He revealed his doubts directly via his Twitter account this weekend.

Previously, Payet’s omission from the French squad has been chalked up to his difficult personality. For what it’s worth, Payet himself admits that his personality can be challenging at times. Even so, he still describes not being selected for his national team as an “injustice.”  The West Ham star has previously been described as “furious” over his snubbing.

The way he’s played as of late for West Ham is only going to lead to an increase in the player’s fury if he doesn’t make the Euro 2016 squad. Yesterday’s FA Cup brace versus Blackburn raised his goal total to 10 in all competition for the Hammers and he’s also added five assists. Keep in mind, he’s missed quite a bit of time for Slaven Bilic’s club due to injury. When he’s been fit and on the field, he’s been a nightmare for the opposition.

In the interest of fairness, it’s not as if France would be bereft of attacking talent in his absence. They can employ the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Mathieu Valbuena and others in Payet’s absence. The point isn’t whether or not France can get by without Payet though. Instead, the real question is whether or not they’re better off without the enigmatic star.

The answer to that question is almost certainly no. Payet’s ability to pick out the perfect pass to split open the defense or to finish with a goal himself is too good to leave at home. If anyone from the French delegation has bothered to watch him play for West Ham this season, they’d be painfully aware that his ability is sufficient to overcome whatever off the field issues he may have.

This is the same French squad that has played Valbuena and Benzema together despite the Real Madrid man allegedly helping to blackmail the diminutive Valbuena over a sex tape. Surely, whatever Payet’s issues are they pale in comparison.

Related Story: Dimitri Payet set to snub Arsenal

It’s time for France to put their personal issues aside and take the best football squad they can to Euro 2016. If they are able to do that, Dimitri Payet will surely be making the trip.