Marseille’s hopes of Europa League glory were dealt a major blow after half an hour of Wednesday’s final.
Already trailing to Atletico Madrid – a side that know a thing or two about making life difficult for teams hoping to score against them – they lost their talisman, Dimitri Payet, to injury.
The former West Ham star appeared to hurt his hamstring and was forced to leave the field of play in floods of tears during the first half.
Dimitri Payet leaves the pitch in tears after being forced to come off with an injury 😢
France's World Cup squad is set to be announced tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/o9EKJZ0bRA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 16, 2018
This was a bitter pill to swallow for Marseille’s supporters and especially cruel for Payet. A star of France’s European Championship side two years ago, the injury will now jeopardise his chances of being included in his national side’s World Cup squad, which is due to be announced on Thursday.
In the moments following his withdrawal, some on Twitter pointed out that Payet had touched the Europa League trophy as he walked on to the pitch at the start of the game – something any superstitious football fan will tell you is certain to bring you bad luck.
https://twitter.com/centroMF/status/996836103960309760
https://twitter.com/DamianPopescu10/status/996835243205242881
Never touch the trophy on the way out #tornhammy #Payet
— Scott Mcivor 🏴 (@rav16511) May 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/CJShedlock/status/996836084402270209
Wow Payet touched the trophy before the match?.. no wonder he went off injured in first half. #FootballGods
— LDNsFinest (@Miiikey) May 16, 2018
Payet touched the trophy before the game and then gets injured right away. It really is bad luck to do that then 🤔
— Jose ⚽️ (@Jose_Araiza7) May 16, 2018
Antoine Griezmann, Payet’s international teammate, opened the scoring for Atleti shortly before Payet’s exit, possibly in his final game for the club.
