JEROME PUGMIRE
Leadership never used to be an issue for France.
Les Bleus lined up at major tournaments with a designated leader in each position: Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, defender Raphaël Varane, midfielder Paul Pogba and forward Antoine Griezmann.
They played together at every major tournament from 2014 onward, with the exception of the 2022 World Cup which Pogba missed because of ongoing right knee problems. As well as being top-level players, the foursome ensured a vocal presence in each area of the field.
Only Griezmann remains.
The long-serving captain Lloris and Varane have retired from international soccer and Pogba — who scored in the 2018 World Cup final win — has seen his career plummet.
Once so inspirational, Pogba was banned for four years by Italy’s anti-doping court this year after testing positive for testosterone. Being without Lloris, Varane and Pogba deprives coach Didier Deschamps of a combined 329 international
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