FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Paul Pogba a doubt for France after knee surgery

By A Robin - September 07, 2022

Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba is a doubt for the World Cup in Qatar later this year after having knee surgery.

The 29-year-old Juventus and France midfielder suffered the injury in July and has not played yet this season.

France’s first World Cup match is against Australia on 22 November. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said Pogba may not return to action for the Serie A club until January.

Undergoing surgery

Last month Pogba decided not to have surgery after damaging his meniscus in training following his move back to Juve from Manchester United in the close season but Allegri said circumstances had changed after he tried to train again.

“This morning he trained for the second time but then stopped and it was then decided that he undergo surgery. We will realistically get him back in January,” Allegri told reporters before today’s Champions League clash at Paris St Germain.

Allegri was unsure if Pogba would be ready for France’s world title defence adding: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.” Pogba was instrumental in France’s World Cup victory in 2018 in Russia, scoring in the final where they beat Croatia 4-2 to lift the trophy after a gap of 20 years. He has scored 11 goals in 91 appearances for France.

Not risked

Juve’s Angel Di Maria is another new recruit who is injured and Allegri said the Argentine winger will not be risked.

“We didn’t want to risk Angel right now, as many important matches await us,” he said.

“(Leonardo) Bonucci, (Dusan) Vlahovic, (Adrien) Rabiot and (Mattia) Perin are the only ones certain of playing tomorrow night. I have yet to decide on the rest.” Juventus and PSG are in Champions League Group H with Benfica and Maccabi Haifa. Allegri said his side would need at least 10 points to qualify for the knockout stages, adding that PSG are one of the title favourites.

“We face an opponent who is among the strongest in Europe, who this year I count as a favourite for the final,” Allegri said. “Tomorrow will be a good match, and we will certainly aim to play a great game from a technical point of view.”