When every other mention of Paul Pogba isn’t attached to a quip over his latest haircut, a new social media post or yet another reminder of his price tag, he must be doing something right.
On or off the pitch, the French midfielder is the kind of individual who automatically stands out and that’s not always to his benefit. Given his immense talent and natural ability, anything short of an excellent display from Pogba renders him an easy target for critics and many column inches have already been dedicated to the disparagement of some of his more disappointing performances.
Despite a subdued start during France’s World Cup opener, Pogba’s influence on France’s gameplay has grown and unmistakably came to the fore in a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina.
However, his importance to Les Bleus was obvious even before that stellar display as France supporters pined for the often derided individual when a rather flat midfield could conjure little of note during a drab 0-0 draw in their final group game against Denmark – still the only goalless draw of this World Cup.
The lack of ingenuity in midfield was alarming and didn’t put Deschamps’ tactics in the best light, even if there was little to play for in that encounter. Pogba’s presence doesn’t seamlessly compensate for his side’s shortcomings in terms of their approach but certainly bridges the gap and makes for a more fluid process.
Even at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho’s approach leaves much to be desired and often sees Pogba bear the brunt of the blame. Not all of it is unwarranted.
When the Premier League giants struggle to release the handbrake, the Frenchman does have a tendency to take it upon himself to make something happen and while that is an admirable attitude, he often winds up dwelling on the ball or attempting to beat one defender too many.
Paul Pogba was excellent against Argentina.
With France though, he has far more flair and attacking verve around him to feed off. Les Bleus boast an embarrassment of riches in forward areas and although many of those exciting talents are bound by the restraints of Deschamps’ instruction, they are still there for Pogba to cleverly tap into.
His incredible vision and sublime execution came to the fore against Argentina as he played numerous balls into space for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to devour. It’s that ability to unlock his side’s true attacking potential that will be absolutely key when they face Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
With Atletico Madrid duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez laying a solid foundation in central defence, the South Americans have been compact and disciplined as a unit, unsurprisingly boasting the best defensive record at the World Cup having conceded just once in the tournament so far.
Pogba will have to be patient and precise with his probing in his efforts to break their stubborn resistance. It will be a test of his mental resolve as much as his footballing capabilities and will demand a level of maturity that he has scarcely portrayed with United.
However, recent outings will inspire confidence among the French contingent in their midfield maestro. His masterclass against Argentina could be a sign of things to come and a testament to his temperament. Or was it only another glimpse of the player he may never fully grow into?
Questions are waiting to be answered at the Nizhny Novogorod Stadium.
