Mbappe Complains About Lack of Pogba in National Team

The 25-year-old French forward Kylian Mbappe, currently with Real Madrid, lamented the absence of former midfielder Paul Pogba as a like-for-like replacement in Didier Deschamps' squad. Pogba has been banned for four years due to doping violations.

"A forward must always adapt to the situations, teammates, and their specific qualities. Many recall how we used to play when I first joined the national team. But back then, different players were on the field. For instance, when Pogba was in the center, I could hang my head, run, and receive the ball, but that’s not the case now. With this squad, we’re finding ourselves less behind the opponent's defense. However, I love to exploit free spaces when they appear. I don’t think I have reached the peak of my fitness just yet. I need proper preparation, which I will achieve at the club," Mbappe's remarks were quoted by ESPN.

France will face Portugal in the quarter-finals on July 5. The match will kick off at 23:00 Yerevan time.