As France prepares to face Portugal in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, Kylian Mbappe has acknowledged the significant impact of Paul Pogba’s absence on the team.
Pogba, a key midfielder, is currently serving a four-year suspension following a failed doping test in August 2023.
Mbappe revealed that Pogba’s absence has forced him to adapt his game, changing his movements on the pitch and affecting his ability to make characteristic runs behind the defense. “Why do I not make runs in behind anymore? It depends on the team,” Mbappe explained. “A striker must always adapt to all situations, to his teammates, to their characteristics.”
Mbappe fondly recalled playing with Pogba, saying, “With him, you just have to lower your head, run, make a call, and you know that the ball will arrive at your foot.” Pogba is appealing the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), hoping to overturn or reduce the ban. Despite his absence, Pogba received a warm reception from fans during France’s Euro 2024 round of 16 match against Belgium, a testament to his enduring popularity.
