29 Jun 2018 21:12:04
Really looking forward to the France vs Argentina match tomorrow. I'm eager to see how our man Pogba plays, as well as possibly seeing Messi in his last performance for Argentina.
As far as Pogba goes, I think he has done quite well, kept things simple and he has been the decisive player in both French victories. It will be interesting to see how Deschamps lines them up. I would think he would play two defensive midfielders besides Pogba. He will want another defensive minded player besides Kante to deal with Messi coming inside off of that right half-space, and this would also free up Pogba, which we have often discussed on here.
The problem thus far for Deschamps, though, is that no other midfielder has played well besides Kante and Pogba. Tolisso struggled the first game, though he should naturally be the best fit. Matuidi played on the left of a 4-4-2 in the second game, and Lemar struggled in the third game.
However it goes, I think France should be too strong for Argentina, unless Marcus Rojo arrives again for a late winner.
29 Jun 2018 22:32:32
Pogba has done quite well? I think he has been at best ok, he needs to show why he is valued so highly and so far, he really hasn’t.
29 Jun 2018 23:36:08
Pogba may not have dominated, but he was the player responsible for both match-winning goals. He played a give and go to score the winning goal against Australia, and then he stripped his opponent and played in Giroud, whose deflected shot set up Mbappe's tap in. France won their two games largely because of those two plays. I would call that playing well.
29 Jun 2018 23:48:23
Vamos Argentina!
30 Jun 2018 07:05:56
Zidanial, I take your point but the occasional moment isn’t enough. Perhaps I expect too much from him but he still seems too casual to me. I desperately want him to be the player we all think / know he can be.
30 Jun 2018 09:12:32
Think France have been very underwhelming. Like watching united this season. They have a wonderfully talented squad who should be tearing teams apart. Nobody has been amazing but pogba has been one of the better ones. Deschamps is a pretty terrible manager and hasn’t found the right balance in midfield or attack. Not playing sidibe and Mendy is also a problem as Pavard and Hernandez offer next to nothing going forward. However, anything can happen in knockout football and momentum is an amazing thing.
30 Jun 2018 10:37:39
I tell you one thing, pogba has been a hell of a lot better than the world class amazing superstar Milinkovic-Savic who did absolutely nothing.
30 Jun 2018 11:37:42
I agreed GDS, I’d never seen him play so kept a close eye on him, as you say, underwhelming.