One by one, France’s FIFA 2018 World Cup champions have been bidding farewell to Les Bleus. Longtime captain Hugo Lloris and defensive stalwart Raphael Varane have joined Blaise Matuidi in international retirement after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann have also stepped away, and N’Golo Kante may soon follow as he has been excluded from Didier Deschamps’ plans for October, despite having played a key role in September’s squad after his surprising performance at UEFA Euro 2024.
Paul Pogba was a crucial player in France’s victory over Russia six years ago and has recently discovered that he can return to professional soccer next March, just as he turns 32. This gives him a few more years to play at a competitive level. Is the Juventus midfielder already part of the group of former France internationals who have become part of a glorious past, unable to add European success to their World Cup title? Or will Pogba have the opportunity to revive his career and aspire to a possible farewell with Les Bleus?
Kante demonstrated during this summer’s Euros in Germany that age is not a barrier under Deschamps, who is likely to endure the current scrutiny following France’s disappointing performance in Germany and their sluggish start in the UEFA Nations League. Consequently, Pogba is probably reflecting on how his 2018 teammates are managing their careers, paying close attention to those who have faced time away from the game for various reasons, primarily due to injuries.
Samuel Umtiti, Corentin Tolisso, and Benjamin Mendy hit the peak of their careers in Russia and now play in France, trying to salvage their remaining time at the top. Umtiti and Tolisso have struggled with serious injuries. Varane ended his international career by extending his club tenure with Manchester United and Como in 1907, but he recently retired from professional soccer at just 31.
Challenges and Fresh Starts for France’s Football Stars
Varane may be transitioning into a coaching position with the Italian club, but Umtiti at Lille OSC and Tolisso at Olympique Lyonnais continue to struggle with injuries. Meanwhile, Mendy from FC Lorient faces a different situation due to his well-known legal troubles. Pogba will also be considering other examples, such as Lucas Hernandez and Ousmane Dembele, who are seeking fresh starts away from Bayern Munich and Barcelona, both opting to revive their careers in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
Like Umtiti, Tolisso, and Varane, Hernandez has faced a string of bad luck with injuries, putting his body on the line in 2022, which led Bayern to let him go. He later showcased impressive individual performances in Paris before being sidelined again. Dembele, known as Dembouz, has often struggled to meet the immense expectations in Barcelona but has finally realized the potential that got him included in Deschamps’ plans back in 2018 and is now a key player for PSG.
Presnel Kimpembe is likely to be next up ahead of Pogba as he attempts to return with Les Parisiens before the end of the year after a long list of physical issues that can be traced back to the aftermath of his rise to being a France regular and PSG leader. However, not yet turning 30 and still being under an extended contract with the French champions should offer Kimpembe a strong chance of rebounding, which is unlikely to be the case with Pogba as Juve is already exploring a separation with the French star while he remains on a minimal salary.
Pogba is expected to be without a club when it’s time for him to make a decision, so figuring out his next chapter is a priority. However, at 32, which he will turn in March, time is running short, even with the demand for quality midfielders. Potential destinations for the former Manchester United player include Ligue 1, Major League Soccer, and Saudi Arabia, but the key factors will be which option provides the highest level of soccer and how fit he can get. These elements will ultimately determine if he plays for France again.
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