Midfielder Paul Pogba has withdrawn from the next FIFA World Cup, scheduled for November 20 to December 18 in Qatar, his lawyer and agent announced. The Juventus Turin player, crowned in 2018 with the France team, who chained injuries in 2022, has not played a match in official competitions since April.
It’s a big blow for Paul Pogba and for the French football team but not a surprise, however: the 29-year-old midfielder will not play in the 2022 World Cup, scheduled from November 20 to November 18. December in Qatar and during which the Blues will try to defend their title.
The 2018 world champion, who has not played an official match since an English Championship meeting on April 19, has since been trying to recover from a knee injury suffered against Liverpool. Operated on a meniscus in September, the player, transferred this summer from Manchester United to Juventus Turin, had nevertheless embarked on a race against time to be restored in time for the next World Cup. In vain.
” After medicals yesterday (Sunday) and today (Monday), it is extremely painful to inform that Paul Pogba will still need rehabilitation after his operation. For this reason, Paul will not be able to join (…) the French team in Qatar “said his lawyer and agent Rafaela Pimenta in a press release.
Additional bad news for the Blues
While returning to training with the Italian club, Pogba suffered a thigh injury, according to local press. The physical glitch too much for the person concerned who is, moreover, at the heart of a case of attempted extortion involving in particular one of his brothers, Mathias Pogba.
For a French team already deprived of N’Golo Kanté, with whom Pogba had formed a formidable duo during the previous World Cup, this is additional bad news. Coach Didier Deschamps will announce the list of players selected for the final phase of the tournament on November 9.