Football

Pogba recovery setback – a huge blow to France ahead of World Cup

Pogba Injury

The latest news about Pogba’s availability for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar must have left French head coach, Didier Deschamps sweating profusely.  The latest update, delivered by Gazzetta dello Sport,  revealed that Pogba was injured yet again during a recovery training a few days ago and now the midfielder is set to miss the 2022 World Cup later this month, throwing Les Blues’ preparations for the tournament into a spin.

France were hopeful that Pogba would return to the camp ahead of the trip to Qatar. Pogba’s new agent, Rafaela Pimenta, announced mid-October that the Juventus player was set to make a comeback just in time for the Old Lady ahead of the World Cup. He has not featured in a competitive fixture for Juventus since switching from Man Utd on a free transfer in July 2022.

Who Could Replace Pogba in France World Cup Squad?

Pogba was a crucial part of Deschamps 2018 Russia World Cup squad that lifted the golden trophy. The midfielder staged a world class performance in Russia as he dominated the midfield alongside Ngolo Kante.

Pogba’s confidence and ability to attack are qualities that Deschamps should miss in Qatar. France kicks-off the 2022 World Cup campaign against Australia, the very team they faced in their 2018 World Cup opener. Deschamp’s midfield options include Kante, Camavinga, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Diaby, Guendouzi, Clauss, Veretout, Fofana and Kamara, though Pogba’s unique skills will be difficult to replace.

Moreover, Pogba scored in the last World Cup final to extend France’s lead over Croatia in a pulsating match. The midfielder made history as the first Man United player to score in a World Cup final, a feat that quickly dwarfed his underwhelming performance in the Red Devils shirt.

However, not much was forthcoming for Pogba in club football following the 2018 World Cup heroics. Injuries struck and Pogba’s time in Manchester was quickly fading. Poor form as a Red Devil became a thorny issue for the club’s hierarchy and a bittersweet exit was imminent. A departure from his boyhood club and a return to the Old Lady where the Frenchman had built his world class reputation as a top-class midfielder materialized in the Summer of 2022.

Pogba’s World Cup dreams in tatters

In recent years, France head coach, Deschamps has heaped praise on Pogba. However, a report by Independent UK in September detailed how Deschamps had issued a World Cup warning to Pogba over fitness concerns and the fractured relationship between the pair became a major talking point. The fact that the midfielder was becoming injury-prone, and out-of-form quickly became a precursor to possible omission from France World Cup squad.

Pogba francePogba’s last competitive match was in April 2022 when he featured for Manchester United against Liverpool in a Premier League clash, a match in which he picked an injury that prompted his exit from Manchester on a free to Juventus. Pogba played for Juventus in a pre-season friendly against Mexico’s CD Guadalajara, though he has yet to feature in a competitive fixture for his new club.

However, another injury blow for Juventus and France has struck again, barely a month to the 2022 World Cup. The 29-year-old is again reported to have sustained a muscle recovery setback in training a few days ago while nearing a return to the pitch. The latest Pogba news puts French Coach, Didier Deschamps in a tight spot, with the attacking midfielder almost ruled out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Pogba is one of a number of stars ruled out of the 2022 World Cup due to injury.


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