Why is Paul Pogba not playing for France in Nations League quarterfinal vs Croatia?
Why is Paul Pogba not playing for France in Nations League quarterfinal vs Croatia?
France is taking on Croatia in a UEFA Nations League quarterfinal first-leg clash at the Stadion Poljud in Split on Friday.
However, a major name that is missing from its squad is midfielder Paul Pogba, who was once tipped as not only one of France’s but the world’s best midfielders.
Pogba, who scored a goal in France’s 4-2 World Cup win against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final in Russia, was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal in September 2023 after testing positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – a banned substance known to boost production of hormones, including testosterone.
Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) later confirmed the ban in February this year, announcing a four-year ban for the Juventus midfielder. As a result, he was ineligible for selection by default.
However, after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Pogba’s ban was reduced from four years to 18 months, making him eligible to resume his club and national career in March 2025.
However, with Pogba being out of the professional circuit for almost two years, it was natural that Les Blues coach Didier Deschamps did not name the midfielder in France’s squad for the Nations League quarterfinal.
Whether Pogba features for the French team in the future remains to be seen.
