Paul Pogba invited by France for key Euro 2024 clash despite doping ban
Disqualified from football for four years due to doping, Paul Pogba received a special proposal from the French national team ahead of their crucial clash with Belgium in the round of 16 at Euro 2024. The 2018 World Cup champion remains highly regarded in France.
In February of this year, Paul Pogba was disqualified for four years for doping. For the French national team player and Juventus Turin midfielder, this could signify the end of his football career—a beautiful career, but certainly not fulfilled with the array of successes it promised.
However, not everything has been decided yet. Paul Pogba is preparing for a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The 31-year-old hopes his disqualification will be overturned or the penalty significantly reduced.
Despite the significant scandal and the ban on playing football, it appears the star is still valued by Didier Deschamps, the coach of the French national team. According to information from ESPN journalists, the French Football Federation officially invited Paul Pogba to Monday's round of 16 match of Euro 2024 against Belgium.
Euro 2024: Paul Pogba to help the French
Pogba has exceptionally close relations with the French coach Didier Deschamps. The two have already collaborated in several major tournaments, including Euro 2016 when France won the silver medal (losing in the final to Portugal 0-1) and during the 2018 World Cup when the French team won the championship (defeating Croatia 4-2).
The player himself fuels reports about his return to the broader squad of Les Bleus with a photo he posted three hours before the match. In it, he poses in front of French fans and encourages the support of the Tricolors.
Everyone behind our team @equipedefrance. Go Blues - wrote the disqualified player on his Instagram.
In addition to Paul Pogba, his former French national team colleague, Blaise Matuidi, will be at the match. Both players received official invitations from the French Football Federation (FFF) to attend the game. It is unknown what capacity they will appear at the stands of the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf.
