Dimitri Payet hoping clear-the-air talks will get him to Euro 2016
Dimitri Payet has revealed clear-the-air talks with France boss Didier Deschamps could yet secure his place at Euro 2016.
The West Ham playmaker ended nine months in the international wilderness as France saw off Holland 3-2 in Amsterdam on Friday night.
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Payet explained a lengthy meeting with Deschamps last week set the tone for his impressive return, and now the 29-year-old is targeting final selection for the summer's European Championship.
"We discussed yes, of course," said Payet when quizzed on talks with France boss Deschamps.
"He told me what he expected of me and I said what I had to say.
"And the effect was that my game clicked against Holland. There is no discomfort between us."
France host Russia in Paris tomorrow night in their final examination before Deschamps selects his squad for June's Euros.
Les Bleus will return to the Stade de France for the first time since the November terrorist attacks in the city, with boss Deschamps having already urged his players to keep their heads amid high emotion.
While Payet remained coy on his chances of making France's squad for the tournament, the West Ham star did concede he had been buoyed by his international return.
"I do not know, I won't until the choice of the coach," said Payet when asked if his performance against Holland would be enough to book his ticket to the Euros.
"I was happy to be back after a long period of absence, had a good week and didn't go too far wrong in the game.
"I started the meeting without any pressure and it has been rather successful.
"I combined well with Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, and I hope that this can continue."
Payet spent his France exile making hay with West Ham, firing 11 goals since joining Slaven Bilic's side last summer.
The former Marseille midfielder has proved central to the Hammers' rise to fifth in the Premier League, forcing his France recall.
Payet accepted focusing solely on West Ham has allowed him to hit top form, but remained circumspect on whether his international absence was a blessing in disguise.
"I don't know, the period was still long," said Payet, when asked if he had benefited from his absence from the France set-up.
"It did allow me to concentrate solely on my club, and especially to be performing well for them.
"But I think I am in the best period of my career. I live a fairytale with my club and if that could transfer into selection (for France) that would be great.
"I will work to ensure that my best years are still in front of me."
Russia thumped Lithuania 3-0 in Moscow on Saturday, so will head to France confident and itching to prove their power ahead of Euro 2016.
Boss Leonid Slutsky fielded a largely experimental line-up against Lithuania, so could recall a host of regulars to face the French.
CSKA Moscow's 19-year-old forward Alexander Golovin claimed his second goal on his second cap on Saturday, however, so could have earned another chance to impress.
