PAUL POGBA laughed off France’s World Cup Final “Star-gate” row as he pointed out: “It will be there for a while now.”
Pogba and his team-mates celebrated their win over Croatia by pulling on new shirts already embroidered with a second star to mark their triumph.
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Opinion was divided over whether it was a sign of supreme confidence or arrogance.
But as far as the Manchester United man was concerned, none of those opinions matter.
Pogba smiled: “Those two stars are going to be there for the next few jerseys!
“I’m just so happy, really happy. It was a dream come true and feels unbelievable.”
Pogba has demonstrated his ability to knuckle down for the team after being criticised for much of the season for playing for himself at Manchester United.
Opting for a safe and sensible hair-cut, rather than the dyed and creative efforts of recent months, was a public sign of Pogba’s new-found sense of responsibility.
And while he admitted he can be “crazy sometimes”, there was more evidence of that maturity as he added: “I’m not the boss – WE’RE the boss.
“It’s not about me. It’s about us. We are the world champions.
“It was great that my brothers were here. They’re my blood.
“I remember back in 1998, watching the final with my dad.
“We watched, watched, watched. So for me to do this, now, is a dream, memorable.
“My dad passed away…..but he will be very proud of me now. My celebrations were for him.”
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Didier Deschamps became just the third person to win the World Cup as a player and a manager
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Pogba’s goal, the first from outside the box in a World Cup final since Marco Tardelli’s strike for Italy in 1982, gave France vital breathing space.
He added: “It was crazy. I couldn’t believe it.
“But I couldn’t have done it without my team-mates. We are a family, more than a group.
“Old and young, all of us were together. That was our strength.
“We didn’t win the Euros two years ago. That hurt at the time.
“But I don’t mind now. If I have to choose, I’ll take the World Cup.”
