The 2018 World version Pickaxe is definitely back to the Euro.
Like his two excellent friendlies against Wales and then Bulgaria, Paul Pogba (80 caps, 10 goals) shone in a solid French midfielder by his showdown and his technical quality during the first meeting. of the Euro against Germany.
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The Mancunien imposed his power against a German environment composed yet of the experienced Kimmich, Gündogan and Kross.
Well in his place on the right side in a 4-3-3 with N'Golo Kanté in the center and Adrien Rabiot on the left, the child from Roissy-en-Brie first recovered precious balls in the midfield.
But he then deliciously distilled them thanks to a skillful long game, in particular trying to find the tricolor side.
On a corner from Antoine Griezmann, it is even very close to opening the scoring on an attempt with the head which passes just above the goals of Neuer (16th).
Sprawling in the center of the field, he has regained his dominance and is once again a player who does not take the ball.
Bitten by Rüdiger!
At the end of the first period, Antonio Rüdiger put his pre-match principles into action.
The German defender had announced at a press conference that it was necessary "just to be dirty and not always nice".
On a touch, the Chelsea defender wanted to unpin Pogba at the end of the first period by trying to bite him.
A situation that angered the former Juventus player who attacked the linesman.
The VAR, however present in the tournament, surprisingly did not intervene.
Back from the locker room, in a meeting a little less controlled than in the first period, he was very valuable by his placement and his sense of anticipation.
The 2018 world champion is clearly the good news for the France team since the start of the rally because he has lived a season of contrast to say the least with Manchester United.
He was first injured in the malleolus in November and then suffered a muscle strain for a month between mid-February and mid-March which deprived him of 9 games with MU.
Less prominent in the first season, the Pickaxe returned at the right time at the end of March.
He was decisive in securing Manchester United's 2nd place in the Premier League and he was one of the architects of the English club's fine campaign in the Europa League - culminating in a huge game against AS Rome - although he missed his C3 final against Villarreal by being substituted in the second half.
Revenge after a mixed season with Manchester United
This setback to the taste of unfinished to sharpen his spirit of revenge with the Blues.
If France wants to go far at the Euro, it will necessarily go through an excellent Paul Pogba.
Like his World Cup in Russia, his personality as a leader and unifier can cement this France team which had cracked a little with the Giroud-Mbappé affair.
His weight in the team on and off the pitch will once again make him a very much sought-after man at the end of the competition during the summer transfer window.
Under contract with Manchester United until 2022, Paul Pogba will undoubtedly leave the English club if he does not want to see him go free in a year.
Targeted by PSG and Juventus, the list of his suitors can only grow if he repeats such services until July 11.