Pogba struggling to be France’s ZZ or Platini

France has been blessed with some of the greatest midfielders of the modern era, but the Manchester United man is yet to live up to the hype, reports Goal.com

It is the night of July 12, 1998. The place is Paris.

Throngs of jubilant locals gather on the famous Champs Elysees to celebrate a historic moment. France have just beaten Brazil 3-0 to claim their first World Cup title.

In doing so, a star has been born. His face has been projected, fittingly, onto the Arc de Triomphe – the fabled monument which stands in the middle of one of the world’s craziest roundabouts.

The image of Zinedine Zidane is complemented by just two words: “Merci Zidane.” The midfielder’s birth certificate may suggest that he was born on June 23, 1972, but this was the evening upon which his legend was given true life.

Zidane was special for many reasons, not least because he picked up the baton carried in the 1980s by the brilliant Michel Platini, a player of equal talent. The attempts of ‘Platoche’ to lead France to world glory were ill-fated, however, as circumstances seemed to persistently rob a talented squad of the fortune they were surely due.

Platini was the first in a sequence of magical French midfielders. Zidane emerged in the next generation and ahead of World Cup 2018 there is still the hope that Paul Pogba - once the world’s most expensive player - can be his successor.

Both Platini and Zidane carried the hopes of a nation, and while Pogba may not need such broad shoulders due to the exceptional talent around him in Russia, the platform he has built for himself means that the pressure is very much on.

If he were under any illusions about the task facing him, his experience at the Allianz Riviera during France’s 3-1 friendly victory over Italy on June 1 will have enlightened him. During that match, he was jeered by the French supporters. Such criticism from a demanding crowd is certainly not alien in France, as Kylian Mbappe was at pains to point out after the match.

“He plays abroad, so he’s not used to it,” the Paris Saint-Germain forward said. “I’m going to explain to him that it’s like that here. I played with it all year. You have to get used to it. We put our earplugs in and score goals.”

 

Pogba struggling to be Frances ZZ or Platini

France has been blessed with some of the greatest midfielders of the modern era, but the Manchester United man is yet to live up to the hype, reports Goal.com It is the night of July 12, 1998. The place is Paris. Throngs of jubilant locals gather on the famous Champs Elysees to celebrate a historic moment. France have just beaten Brazil 3-0 to claim their first World Cup title. In doing so, a star has been born. His face has been projected, fittingly, onto the Arc de Triomphe the fabled monument which stands in the middle of one of the worlds craziest roundabouts. The image of Zinedine Zidane is complemented by just two words: Merci Zidane. The midfielders birth certificate may suggest that he was born on June 23, 1972, but this was the evening upon which his legend was given true life. Zidane was special for many reasons, not least because he picked up the baton carried in the 1980s by the brilliant Michel Platini, a player of equal talent. The attempts of Platoche to lead France to world glory were ill-fated, however, as circumstances seemed to persistently rob a talented squad of the fortune they were surely due. Platini was the first in a sequence of magical French midfielders. Zidane emerged in the next generation and ahead of World Cup 2018 there is still the hope that Paul Pogba - once the worlds most expensive player - can be his successor. Both Platini and Zidane carried the hopes of a nation, and while Pogba may not need such broad shoulders due to the exceptional talent around him in Russia, the platform he has built for himself means that the pressure is very much on. If he were under any illusions about the task facing him, his experience at the Allianz Riviera during Frances 3-1 friendly victory over Italy on June 1 will have enlightened him. During that match, he was jeered by the French supporters. Such criticism from a demanding crowd is certainly not alien in France, as Kylian Mbappe was at pains to point out after the match. He plays abroad, so hes not used to it, the Paris Saint-Germain forward said. Im going to explain to him that its like that here. I played with it all year. You have to get used to it. We put our earplugs in and score goals.