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France Squeeze Past Sweden but Deschamps Needs to Release Paul Pogba to Progress

Andrew Gibney@@gibney_aX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistNovember 18, 2014

France's midfielder Paul Pogba, right, challenges for the ball with Sweden's forward Nabil Bahoui, during an international friendly soccer match between France and Sweden, at the Velodrome Stadium, in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
Claude Paris/Associated Press

France relied on a late Raphael Varane header to defeat Sweden 1-0 in Tuesday night's friendly at the Stade Velodrome.

It was the second of France's two friendlies during this international break, and if Les Bleus want to become serious contenders for the Euro 2016 crown, Didier Deschamps needs to allow Paul Pogba a free role or risk wasting one of France's most dangerous weapons.

In Friday night's 1-1 draw with Albania, Deschamps altered his side into a 4-3-1-2 with Pogba playing beside both Moussa Sissoko and Yohan Cabaye, giving Pogba the freedom to find space and be a more creative part of the France attack.

On Tuesday, Deschamps switched it up againanalysed herethis time playing 4-2-3-1 with Pogba lined up beside Wolfsburg's Josuha Guilavogui behind the attacking trio of Mathieu Valbuena, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann.

Playing alongside the more inexperienced Guilavogui, Pogba had to show a more disciplined side to his game, but in doing that, it hampered his natural attacking instincts. After a bright start, it was clear to see frustration creep into the 21-year-old's performance.

In the opening 10 minutes, Pogba was happy to ping the ball around the pitch. The sweeping passes gave the impression he was in the mood to put Sweden to the sword.

However, as the first half developed, the passes became more erratic, and Pogba's influence began to wane.

Undoubtedly, the best moment of the first half came after just 11 minutes. Pogba, in a rare foray out of the deep-lying role, picked the ball up on the edge of the box, and his delightful chip with the outside of his right boot found the onrushing Layvin Kurzawa, but the left-back could only volley his effort over the bar.

Pogba's touches in the first half.
Pogba's touches in the first half.WhoScored

According to the chalkboard from WhoScored.com, that was the highest up the pitch—apart from during a set piece—that Pogba touched the ball in the first half.

It is clear to see the influence the Juventus man can have when he is allowed to venture forward, and if France is to try and challenge the likes of Germany, Spain and the Netherlands for the Euro 2016 trophy, Deschamps needs to play Pogba in a position where he is allowed to express himself.

During the World Cup, Deschamps favoured playing 4-3-3, and Pogba was joined by Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi. This allowed Pogba to push on, knowing he had the protection of Cabaye behind him and the never-ending engine of Matuidi to cover his runs.

This is not to say that Pogba can't play the deeper position, but when you have players such as Maxime Gonalons and Morgan Schneiderlin available, it makes more sense to play them in their natural positions and let Pogba dazzle and delight, as he is able to do for Juventus is Serie A.

Pogba's touches with Sissoko on the pitch.
Pogba's touches with Sissoko on the pitch.WhoScored

After 61 minutes on Tuesday, Deschamps brought on Sissoko for Payet, changing the look of the France midfield and taking the shackles off Pogba. You can see from his touches in the last 30 minutes that he was able to get on the ball in the areas that mattered.

Not one player in the France team touched the ball more than Pogba on Tuesday night, but if you are not allowing the midfielder to push higher up and receive the ball in the final third, you are not playing him to his potential.

France has never had a problem creating talented individual players. When you look back at the list of players that Les Bleus have been able to call on for the last 12 years, they are the envy of some of Europe's best.

However, football, as we all know, is not played on paper. It is one thing to name Pogba in the starting line-up, but if Deschamps wants to get the best out of the young star, he needs to give him the freedom to express himself or Pogba's unquestionable talent could go to waste.