Manchester United’s Paul Pogba shines as France make it through to World Cup Final!
By Ollie Slack
France are the first team through to the World Cup Final after they defeated Belgium 1-0. Paul Pogba was terrific on the night as he continues to show his class on the world stage.
France are through to their first World Cup final since 2006 after Samuel Umtiti’s header secured a 1-0 win.
A number of Manchester United stars featured in the match. Paul Pogba was the standout alongside PSG’s Kylian Mbappe for France. Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku also featured for Belgium.
Didier Deschamps instructed his French team to sit back before pouncing on their tentative opponents. Roberto Martinez went with a back four in a bid to keep things tight for Belgium.
The first half was relatively even, despite the different approaches, both sides had their chances. Eden Hazard, Belgium’s biggest contributor, was most likely to be involved in a goal. His opposite number Mbappe was electric per usual in the opening 45 minutes too.
This theme continued into the second half and it only took six minutes before France found the net. A Greizmann corner whipped in towards the front post was flicked home by Samuel Umtiti. United’s Marouane Fellaini was caught napping on his heels as he couldn’t rise high enough to put the goalscorer off.
How did both teams respond to the opening goal?
The goal seemed to lift France’s confidence further as they stepped into another gear. Belgium pushed forward to get that all-important equaliser leaving space in behind for France’s lightning whippets to sprint into.
Belgium continued their pressure in search of the elusive equaliser, but Deschamps France held strong.
Manchester United players rated
Paul Pogba – 8
Pogba was superb for France tonight. His ability to glide past players with his dancing feet on the counter-attack is sensational. His decision making on who to pass to is never unreliable. With a number of players available, he often picks the right option.
Manchester United fans will be hoping the Frenchman can continue this form for the club when the Premier League gets underway.
Marouane Fellaini – 4
After on such a high after a terrific Quarterfinal performance, Fellaini will be feeling equally as low tonight. The United giant was caught on his heels for France’s goal as he failed to cover the front post quickly enough.
Fellaini was a goal threat himself before being taken off. He was picking up a number of good positions in the box when crosses came in. Not the player to be taking off with 10 minutes to go.
Lukaku fed off scraps most of the night. The striker did not have too many chances to test Lloris. One flashed past his nose after Kevin De Bruyne fired a driven pass into the box.
Other than that, Lukaku would only be adding his constant hurrying of defenders and clever movements off the ball to his semi-final showreel.