France ensured progression to the next stage of Euro 2016 after securing top spot in Group A with a 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Lille on Sunday evening.
Here, FA Content Editor Peter Glynn looks at the performance of the hosts’ stand-out performer on the night, Paul Pogba.
Playing with both feet
With little over 16 minutes played in Sunday evening’s game between France and Switzerland, Paul Pogba had already seen two efforts repelled by Swiss goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, and one eye-catching strike from distance bounce off the crossbar.
The Juventus midfielder’s first effort saw him receive a knock-down from central striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, taking two touches to move the ball out of his feet before wrapping the inside of his right foot around the ball in an attempt to curl the ball beyond Sommer into the corner of the goal.
Pogba would then dispatch his next two strikes with his left foot: one a half-volley from an acute angle on the left of the penalty area, and the second, a beautifully controlled left-footed strike from 25 yards after a surging run from midfield.
Paul Pogba unleashes a long-range effort against Switzerland
It probably shouldn’t be a point of note to highlight that a player talked about as one of the best talents in the world game, can use both feet to accurately shoot and pass from a variety of distances and areas of the pitch using a range of techniques. However, very few others do so with equal finesse in execution.
Without the need to routinely cut-back onto a favoured foot means attacking moves flow through the midfielder without interruption, in turn, allowing fewer opportunities for chasing defenders to recover goal-side.
Players such as Pogba and team-mate Dimitri Payet, who can manipulate the ball and dispatch shots on both sides of their bodies may prove to be one creative solution to unlocking packed defensive units as the tournament progresses.
Dealing with the ball under pressure
There was a moment in the 56th minute when Pogba found himself on the left of France’s midfield surrounded by four red shirts. There wasn’t another team-mate in shot.
At ease in the outnumbered situation, the highly-rated 23-year-old used his impressive physical frame to retain possession, turning his back to opponents and holding off challenges with his arms before manoeuvring the ball between the tangle of legs to Antoine Griezmann who started another attack.
Implication for coaches: during coaching practices how often is a single attacker in possession of the ball pitted against four defenders in a space no bigger than 10 yards by 10 yards?
Surging runs in transition
Unlike France’s previous opponents, Romania and Albania, Switzerland were willing to commit more players to attacking phases and were successful in dominating possession in the French half for long periods of the tie.
The down-side of this approach was Didier Deschamps’ side often found space to launch counter-attacks when possession was regained.
Pogba and fellow midfielder Moussa Sissoko both demonstrated the advantage of possessing the physical and technical skills to quickly turn defence into attack with surging runs over 40 or 50 yards.
As well as showing their skill in driving with the ball into open spaces, the midfielders both showed a robustness and strength to hold-off opponents whilst moving at close to maximum speed.
Aerial skills
In the build up to the second of his three early strikes at goal, Pogba showed his mastery of aerial control.
Paul Pogba challenges Switzerland's Fabian Schaer for the ball
Anticipating the destination of a Swiss defensive header Pogba reacted first: cushioning the dropping ball onto his chest before flicking it over an outstretched Swiss leg to retain individual possession.
With the ball bouncing around the crowded penalty areas, Pogba extended one of his rangy-legs to nick the ball away from another opponent and on to Kingsley Coman.
Pogba possesses a wide variety of aerial control skills and is as comfortable at receiving the ball with his head and chest as he is with his feet. Such a wide repertoire of technique, allows France to vary their game-style and often look to play directly into Pogba’s frame following a forward surge.
In the second period, Pogba, positioned on the edge of the Swiss penalty area, leapt to cushion a first-time pass into the path of substitute Payet.
At the moment of ball-contact Pogba had both feet off the ground, highlighting his fusion of physical and technical skills and the benefit of being able to master the ball at a higher-point than the opponent.
Implication for coaches: what is the distribution of time spent working on aerial control skills in comparison to work with the ball on the floor?
Peter Glynn is FA Education Content Editor and will be providing comment and analysis throughout Euro 2016.
Peter is editor of The FA’s coaching magazine, The Boot Room, and is a holder of the FA Advanced Youth Award and UEFA B coaching licence.
Follow Peter on twitter: @_peterglynn
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily The Football Association
