'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2018 World Cup favourites France beat Russia 3-1 in St.Petersburg to cap off the international break with one win and one loss.
However, it was the hosts, Russia who came close to taking the lead early on through Fyodor Smolov.
Later, France were the ones who came close but Kylian Mbappe fluffed his chance as he missed from six yards out.
But, they did break the deadlock in the 40th minute when Paul Pogba played a beautiful through ball to Mbappe and this time the 19-year-old made amends as he put the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The second half kicked off ideally for the Les Blues when Pogba converted his free kick to double the scoreline just four minutes in.
The Manchester United man was having an excellent game thus far, thriving in his free and natural attacking role.
The Russians did pull one back through Smolov in the 68th minute after an excellent out swinging cross from Igor Smolnikov which was failed to be intercepted by the defence.
But any hopes of a comeback vanished when the away side scored in the final ten minutes, again through Mbappe, who wrong-footed the defender with his shot eventually going through the legs of Russian keeper Andrey Lunev to hand Didier Deschamps' men a 3-1 victory
Here's what went right for France:
#3 Young and Deadly Attacking Trio
France manager Didier Deschamps lined up his front three with Anthony Martial, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with the PSG forward operating in the middle. The average age of trio was only 20 years of age.
However, age was going to be no defining factor as the three of them linked up very well with each other.
Martial, as usual, thrived on the left wing, with his pace, dribbling and skillfulness on the ball, causing problems for the Russian defence as he cut inside on his right foot.
Dembele who has been receiving a good amount of time on the pitch with Barcelona which has seen him produce good performances.
He continued his decent streak of form and could have had a couple of assists in the first half itself, only for Mbappe not to capitalise on the chances he was set up by the winger.
Dembele finished the game completing two take ons before being substituted in the 72nd minute.
However, in spite of missing two glorious chances, the PSG star did redeemed himself by converting on the opportunities he had later in the game to finish off with a brace.
#2 Mbappe shines as a false nine
Didier Deschamps decided to experiment by leaving Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud on the bench, which meant that Paris Saint Germain winger Mbappe was deployed in the center forward role.
The 19 year old did not disappoint and was lively in the game as completed four take ons and had a pass accuracy of 82%.
Questions were raised when he missed a couple of chances in the first 45 minutes, with regards to his capacity of playing alone up front, furthermore when he failed to capitalise from six yards out.
However, the missed chances did not his confidence down as the PSG star rebounded later on.
First, he obliged on the through ball played by midfielder Pogba, which left him one on one with the defender by converting late in the first half to give France the lead at the break.
He was in action once again when he diminished the hopes of a Russian comeback by finishing off the game in the 83rd minute as he wrong-footed the fullback on his way to scoring his second goal of the game through the legs of the goalkeeper.
This may be the last time we get to see Mbappe as a false nine since Griezmann will be the first choice up front in the World Cup with back up from the likes of Giroud and Wissam Ben Yedder, which will enable the former Monaco man to switch back to his preferred right wing.
#1 Pogba Flourishes in a Free role
Pogba justified his capability and strengths as he was given the freedom to play in his natural and free-flowing role, allowing him to pop up on different areas of the pitch as he played an instrumental part in France's win.
The Manchester United man finished the game with one goal, one assist and completed a total of 46 passes.
He set up the first goal for Mbappe with an excellent through ball from beyond midfield.
He doubled France's lead by converting his free-kick just four minutes into the second half. Pogba was enjoying playing in his preferred position as he was making key passes, taking on defenders, shooting the ball and also showcasing his skills on the ball.
His performance was an indication to the Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, to take note of what the Portuguese has been missing out in recent months by limiting the Frenchman in a defensive role which has failed to get the best out of him and been a cause for his disappointing run.
It's not too late before Mourinho realises Pogba's potential of allowing him to play his natural game by giving him the freedom to be the catalyst and instigator for his side which in return will be prosperous for both the player and the Red Devils.
