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July 13, 2018

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France ‘out to rectify Euro 2016 mistakes’

Source: Agencies | 00:01 UTC+8 July 13, 2018 | Print Edition

France is determined not to make the same mistakes it did two years ago in losing the Euro 2016 final when it takes on Croatia for the biggest prize in football, midfielder Paul Pogba said yesterday.

The French face the Croats in the World Cup final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday, but they are rejecting the favorites tag which cost them dearly two years ago, he said.

France beat Germany in the Euro 2016 semifinal setting up an encounter in Paris against then-underdog Portugal, which pulled off a 1-0 extra-time win for the continental title.

“We are conscious of the situation, we do not want to make the same mistakes like two years ago. We want to work for it, to give everything we have to take this Cup home,” Pogba told reporters.

“I think at the Euro we thought it was already a done deal, the mentality was not the same as now. I cannot lie that when we beat Germany we thought that was the final. I know the taste of losing a final. I don’t want it to happen again.

“Against Portugal we thought we had won it before the start of the game. That will not happen again.”

France has been improving throughout the tournament, beating Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium in the knockout rounds without needing extra time or penalties.

Croatia needed spot kicks to advance against Denmark in the last 16 and against Russia in the quarterfinals. It then came from a goal down against England on Wednesday to win 2-1 in extra time.

That is not a sign of a struggling team, according to Pogba, but one that has a lot of talent.

“The Croats had a very difficult match and they were behind. But they are mentally very strong. There are two teams in the final, a Cup, and there are 90 minutes more.

“For us, we are not the favorites. We stay as we are from the start of the tournament. We have no doubts, we play together, that’s our strength. We are chasing something and will do everything to succeed.”

France, world champion in 1998 after beating Croatia in the semis, is in its third World Cup final. It is unknown territory for Croatia, however.

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