World Cup 2018: Why Paul Pogba has the ability to do so much for France, according to Marcel Desailly

Desailly also believes that France manager Didier Desailly has reacted to a number of the problems he's faced in recent months, and showed an evolution in his thinking

For Marcel Desailly, the change in Paul Pogba is obvious.

“He smiles more when he is with the national team,” the former French World Cup winner says, before adding: “And hopefully it’s a sign of what is to come for us all during the competition.”

So often optimistic and upbeat himself, Desailly may well have touched on something that could be central to France’s World Cup. Because, as with Manchester United, Pogba’s issues almost seem to personify the issues of the national team. Didier Deschamps struggled to find a definitive role for the midfield creator, reflecting how he struggled to find the right tactics for a hugely talented squad, and that ultimately played into the Euro 2016 final defeat by Portugal at the Stade de France.

Desailly, however, played along Deschamps at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, stood alongside him as the captain lifted both trophies, so fully trusts the authority and judgement of his old teammate.

“There has been a lot of commentaries since the list was released but Didier certainly knows what he is doing,” he says.

“What is being said and is being printed is normal for a country like France which is blessed with the best footballers in the world.

“The feeling is the same, just like we had 20 years ago when some players were left out and everybody said the team lacked some real ingredients but we came up on top so, yeah, it certainly feels right.”

Crucially, Desailly feels Deschamps has reacted to some of the problems, and showed an evolution in his thinking.

“There are few players or former players who give their best to the French national team like Didier so it’s important that we all support him. He suffered a lot when the team lost the final [in 2016] and he knows for sure that there will be a lot of questions asked if this group of players selected do not meet the standards in Russia.

Desailly believes that Pogba has the ability to do more for France at this summer’s World Cup (AFP)

“Look at the moment what he is trying to do is explain his ideas and what he expects of them at the World Cup. During the Euros, he concentrated on a lot of wingers, took the likes of Kingsley Coman and others and for him maybe he did not get what he wanted from them so this time what he is attempting to do is to take a lot of midfielders who are strong and that is why players like [Corentin] Tolisso are in the team.”

That is of course where Pogba comes in, and Desailly feels Deschamps will be especially conscious of one Manchester United performance – and remind Pogba of it too.

“For me, Pogba has the ability to do more and his performance against Manchester City tells me all I need to know about his ability. He will be shown those clips when he joins the national team and I am sure that the same standards will be demanded of him.”

Desailly’s former centre-half partner William Gallas isn’t quite so enamoured with the situation, having expressed doubts about the omission of Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa because of a bizarre blackmailing story involving Mathieu Valbuena – a controversy which stretches back to pre-Euro 2016. Desailly, for his part, tends to agree.

“Everybody can be a manager these days but don’t take what I am saying in a bad way but, in my opinion, some players don’t deserve to be hurt like they are being hurt now because of the national team, it’s very sad, to be honest.

“There are a lot of factors that go into deciding who plays for France these days and, for me, it’s sad because I know for sure that some players don’t deserve what is going on in the national team.”