Before France played Romania on Friday night, I texted Dimitri Payet to wish him all the best. The text read: 'Enjoy it, you have nothing to prove, you are the best player there.'

I wasn't wrong, was I? He was fantastic, not only with his late match-winning goal but overall. France were playing everything through him.

When he was on the left side they attacked on that side — when he went into the middle they did the same.

Dimitri Payet was the best player on the pitch on Friday night, scoring a late goal to win the game for France

Payet was emotional in his celebrations, and has had to prove himself worthy of a place in the France squad

It is incredible how, in this strong French team, most of the players, when they had the ball, were looking for Dimitri. It's amazing, particularly because he hasn't been a regular for the French team. He had to prove himself.

He got his chance because of his brilliant season at West Ham. We are proud he is at our club — and, yes, he has a long contract!

He has practically forced the France coach Didier Deschamps to give him an opportunity but up until the other night they were all friendly matches.

Everything about him was great, he was making other players better, he was making simple passes, through balls, he was making an assist for Olivier Giroud — and then he was topping it off with that thing; that flick he has done in the middle of the park so many times for West Ham, which is good for the crowd and gives confidence to the team.

Payet is embraced by his team-mates after being substituted late on in the game at Stade de France

Playmaker Payet embraced Didier Deschamps (right) when he was substituted and appeared very emotional

His goal on Friday night, when it came, was unbelievable. We are all glad for him and that is what he needed.

Of course, he isn't going to score like that every time but now I am expecting him to play better and better.

And some will say it is a double-edged sword for West Ham, and myself and that if Dimitri continues to play like that, there will be other big clubs circling.

I don't think about that though. We are so proud to have him and apart from Luka Modric, or someone else from the Croatia team, I would like nothing better than if he was the player of the tournament.

After that, what happens, happens but we know he is happy at West Ham.

Payet celebrates with Mark Noble after the West Ham captain scored against Watford in April

Slaven Bilic (right) says he is not worried about bigger clubs trying to poach Payet from West Ham

I don't think that his performances will encourage a club bigger than us to try and get him — I just enjoy his football and I am glad for him.

When I was at the Turkish club Besiktas I tried to get him there but it was quite impossible. He was already playing in a big league for Olympique Marseille, one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and he had proved himself for them.

OK, he maybe hadn't had such a great season as he went on to have at West Ham but he was a key player for them too.

Since he came to our club he has improved again. He has matured, he has been consistent. Yes, I and my staff at the club have helped him but mainly he's done it himself.

It was easy because his team-mates at West Ham recognised he was that special player. They also saw he was humble, he didn't want special treatment and he was happy to be there. He was also prepared to do the 'dirty' work to the level of his capabilities.

Bilic admits he tried to bring Payet to Besiktas while he played for Marseille, but it was quite impossible

Payet's goal at the Stade de France sent a whole nation wild, and Payet is set to get better and better

He will never be a Mark Noble or a Cheikhou Kouyate in a defensive way, but he is always trying, he is coming back into position and pressing when he can.

When the other players recognised that, they were more than happy to run a few extra yards to cover him.

That is ideal for the manager. I didn't have to tell them, 'Listen, you have to do this or that'. It became natural for them.

And Dimitri is like other special players, he is emotional. He cried after he scored that fantastic goal the other night and also when he came off the pitch with a few minutes to go. He knew he had to prove himself. Now he has broken through that barrier.

He is one of the lads, though. From what I have seen last season they all like him and because of that, he feels important. They respect him and it is reciprocated.

Payet (left) jokes with Andre-Pierre Gignac during a France training session in Clairefontaine on Sunday

Bilic has been working for ITV during the European Championship and says he is enjoying being in the studio

England were good but don't be deluded

As for England, I thought they were excellent. OK, Russia were poor but that was because England played so well.

They deserved to win, big-time but the problem is that when they say at the end, 'We controlled the game,' that is a delusion. You can be in control only when, in the dying minutes, you are at least two goals up.

However, I don't see that England, despite that draw, are under enormous pressure. If I was Roy Hodgson, I would focus totally on the positive. Sometimes, when you are not happy with the result, you will go to the players and say: 'Guys, let's forget about this game, let's put it to bed.'

After this game, though, I would say: 'Let's talk about it, because we were good.'

I'm enjoying working on the Euros for ITV and being in Paris. My family is here and it good to be with them. It is good to talk about the game with football people. I like to have fun when I do the TV. It is not a seminar — the viewers want to be entertained as well as informed.

England should focus on the positives despite conceding late against Russia - they were excellent throughout

Roy Hodgson and England are not under huge pressure, and they need to forget about the result and move on

Modric the master

Talking about little masters, I watched another one on Sunday — Luka Modric.

He is extra special to me because, as the Under-21 coach of Croatia, I gave him his first cap when he was two years younger than the rest — and then made him captain because I saw he was responsible and reliable.

Luka is a magnificent player, not only with his skill when he has the ball but with his incredible thirst for work when the opposition have possession. He tracks back, he doesn't stop for 90 minutes, he gives everything on the pitch and not all players of his kind are prepared to do that.

I was privileged last week to present him with his Croatian player of the year award in Zagreb.

Luka Modric is a little master; he tracks back, doesn't stop running for 90 minutes and gives everything