Paul Pogba gesture: 'I believe in his honesty, that is the most important thing,' says Didier Deschamps

There is a sense in France that Pogba is not coping well with the pressure he is under

Paul Pogba is considered one of the most exciting players in world football (Getty)

Dider Deschamps did not want to talk about Paul Pogba again, after a few days dominated by the issue of what exactly his star midfielder meant with a gesture at the end of Wednesday night’s victory over Albania in Marseille.

Was it the famous ‘bras d’honneur’, the French name for the action known across Europe, with one bent pumping fist, the opposite hand on that bicep, and a message of 'up yours'? Or was it, in Pogba’s own curious explanation, ‘une sarabande’, a dance move directed to his family in the crowd?

This is the issue, more than anything about tactics or performances, that has been talked about in France this week. The hosts play their third game on Sunday night, against Switzerland in Lille, knowing that a draw would ensure that they win Group A and face a third-placed team in their last-16 game.

There are certainly serious football questions to discuss, not least the fact that Deschamps got his selection wrong for both first halves against Romania and Albania.

These were raised, but at the end of his pre-match press conference at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Deschamps was asked again about what exactly Pogba was doing with his arms. All he could do was reiterate his support for the 23-year-old who is a magnet for attention whether he is playing well or not.

“He gave me his explanation, and I believe him,” Deschamps said. “I believe in his honesty, that is the most important thing. I don’t know what he told you. The most important thing is what he told me.”

What Pogba said publicly on Thursday was scarcely believable, as this story grew from one about an instinctive emotional reaction into one about the bigger question of Pogba’s maturity, his character and whether he can cope or not with the pressure he is under. He is expected to deliver the European Championship to France on home soil and it is not proving as easy for him as some hoped.

I believe in his honesty, that is the most important thing. I don’t know what he told you. The most important thing is what he told me.

&#13; <p>Didier Deschamps</p>&#13;

That is why Pogba struggled against Romania on the opening game, when he was hauled off as Deschamps switched to a 4-2-3-1 without him. That is why he started on the bench against Albania, coming on at half-time and improving the team. It was after Dimitri Payet scored France’s second goal to seal the win that Pogba made the gesture which has been re-watched and re-interpreted ever since.

Broadcaster BeIN Sports had the footage first but decided not to use it. “We are supporters of Les Bleus,” explained editorial director Florent Houzout, “and this was not the time to create unhelpful controversy. I prefer to stay positive.” But soon enough the images found their way onto social media and it became a controversy anyway.

Pogba had to explain himself and he did so with a statement released in his name on Thursday afternoon. “I want to say very sincerely but very firmly that, whatever the interpretation that is given to these images, that was never my intention,” Pogba said. “I was wildly happy and, turning to the stand where I knew my mother and brothers were, I gave my usual sarabande, arm in the air and raised fist: nothing more, nothing less.”

The sarabande, for those who do not know, is a classical Latin American dance, originating in sixteenth century Panama. It was an explanation that surprised everyone, but it was the party line and the Pogba camp was sticking to it. His agent Mino Raiola went on BeIN Sports and explained that what Pogba was doing was “a dance with his brothers and his friends”.

Paul Pogba's family were in the crowd on Wednesday night (Getty)

It might sound like a fuss about not very much but what has struck people in France has been Pogba’s failure to take responsibility for his actions.

That was what annoyed Vincent Duluc, writing in Friday’s L’Equipe. “The problem is that his convoluted explanations, which remind you that he is not especially gifted at defending himself, are totally devoid of frankness, lucidity or regrets,” he wrote.

There is a sense here that Pogba is not coping well with the pressure he is under, the expectation of 60million people to do for them what Zinedine Zidane did in 1998. That explained his early struggle, his emotional reaction after the Albania game and his failure to adequately explain himself afterwards.

But then pressure is part of elite football and Pogba has coped well enough with it so far. That is why he has won consecutive Serie A titles and why Real Madrid are willing to spend up to €120million to sign him this summer. That is why he is so keen to say that he wants to be the best player in the world and win the Ballon d’Or. If Pogba were to drag France to the trophy, having done the same with Juventus this year, he would surely win it.

All this fuss about the gesture has succeeded in doing is to take the attention away from what was an improved substitute appearance in Marseille. He gave France a dynamism and spark that they had been lacking, as they changed back from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 to win the game.

Didier Deschamps addresses the media after the controversy (Getty)

Pogba will keep his place against Switzerland tonight as Deschamps makes changes to keep his players fresh for the last-16. That means that Andre-Pierre Gignac and Yohan Cabaye will come in for Olivier Giroud and N’golo Kante who have each received one yellow card so far. Pogba and Antoine Griezmann will come back in as Deschamps tries to find a way to include his two top players as well as his current leading man, Dimitri Payet.

That will surely mean a return to 4-3-3, with Payet and Griezmann either side of Gignac up front, and Pogba, Cabaye and Matuidi in midfield.

Hugo Lloris does not say much in press conferences but before the Albania game he said that Pogba knew that he must contribute more to the team. Last night in Lille Lloris was more supportive, talking about how impressed he was with Pogba’s second half in Marseille.

“Paul showed a lot of character in the second half and did a lot better than he did in the first game,” Lloris said. “He played with intensity and aggression, and that is what we ask him to do. What matters is to be part of the team’s plan. The competition is very long, and we will need him and Griezmann.”

This is France’s third game, and if they reach the final that will be their seventh. There is plenty of time for Pogba to find his stride, win the cup and maybe Ballon d’Or too. Then everyone will talk about his football.