Paul Pogba has never been shy about sharing his opinions, and he's at it again. The former Manchester United midfielder has come out and said that the France squad heading into the 2026 World Cup is actually better than the team that lifted the trophy back in 2018. High praise, considering that 2018 side was absolutely stacked with talent from back to front.
Now, it's easy to dismiss this as a bloke trying to stay relevant while he sits out a doping ban, but let's be fair and actually think about it. The 2018 squad had Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud, Kante, Varane, Lloris and yes, Pogba himself pulling strings in midfield. That was a genuinely frightening group of players, and they won the thing convincingly. So the bar Pogba is trying to clear is seriously high.
That said, France in 2026 could be something special. Mbappe is now even more experienced and playing as the undisputed main man. Camavinga and Tchouameni give them real engine power in the middle of the park. Upfront there is depth and pace, and defensively they look solid. If everyone stays fit and playing regularly, there is a genuine argument that the squad on paper is as good as any France side in recent memory.
The tricky part, though, is that having a better squad does not automatically mean a better team. The 2018 side had a togetherness and a way of grinding out results even when they were not at their best. Tournament football is about mentality as much as ability, and France have had a habit of underperforming at major tournaments despite having the players to win everything.
Pogba is clearly backing the next generation to do the business, and who knows, maybe he is right. But until someone actually lifts that trophy in 2026, it is all just very entertaining pub talk. And honestly, that is part of what makes international football so much fun.
Let me know your thoughts.