🏅 MOTM: Imperious Pogba runs the show as France live up to billing | OneFootball

A Mats Hummels own goal was enough to see France beat Germany 1-0 in their opening game of Group E as Les Bleus showed just why they were considered pre-tournament favourites.

And our Man of the Match was …

Paul Pogba (France)

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The phenomenon of the ‘pre-assist’ is a relatively recent one in football – that’s the pass before the pass that creates the goal, but you knew that.

However, if any ‘pre-assist’ was as important as the actual assist in recent memory this was one tonight.

Paul Pogba’s outside of the boot pass out to Kylian Mbappé on 41 minutes was one of true wonder and saw the Paris Saint-Germain man fire a cross at Mats Hummels that ricocheted into the net for the only goal of the game.

It was a pass of unfathomable invention and craft, but it wasn’t just the pass that made Pogba stand out this evening.

The Manchester United midfielder was exemplary at the Allianz Arena and showed just why, on a good day, he’s one of the modern game’s truly world class players.

The touch, the technique, the vision, the range of passing – everything was on show here in a totally complete 90 minute performance.

With Adrien Rabiot and N’Golo Kanté completing the midfield trident, this really does have the look of an imperious French side going forward in the tournament.

The favourites just laid down a marker.