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ANGRY PAUL POGBA STORMS PITCH FROM THE BENCH TO CONFRONT ICELAND

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Paul Pogba faces a possible punishment by UEFA for storming the pitch from the bench to confront on-field Iceland players following a rough tackle on his French team-mate, Kylian Mbappe in Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match.

 Mbappe goans in pain after the hard tackle

According to UK’s Daily Mail, Pogba was left seething with Iceland’s players as he stormed onto the pitch following a nasty challenge on Mbappe. The foul was committed by Runar Mar Sigurjonsson who kicked out twice at Kylian Mbappe in stoppage-time.

Paul Pogba stormed on to confront Iceland players after a nasty challenge on Kylian Mbappe.

The World Cup winners were rescued from embarrassment by Mbappe’s last-minute penalty after they had fallen two behind to the minnows in Guingamp.

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But Pogba, who had been taken off midway through the second half, was in no mood for pleasantries after Iceland midfielder Runar Mar Sigurjonsson kicked out twice as Mbappe raced down the wing in stoppage-time.

The France bench were furious at the cynical challenges and Manchester United midfielder Pogba led the arguments with the referee as he was ushered back to his seat from the pitch.

Team-mate Raphael Varane was one of the peace-makers trying to diffuse the angry confrontation.

Pogba could face retrospective punishment following his reaction and France will await the referee’s report to see if any further action is to be taken.

Sigurjonsson was swiftly shown a yellow card for his late tackle as Mbappe was treated for the foul. The striker is expected to be fine to take on Germany in the Nations League on Tuesday, however.

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It was a carnival atmosphere before the match as fans in Guingamp got a glimpse of the World Cup trophy.

But the partisan home crowd were soon stunned when the visitors raced into a two-goal lead through Birkir Bjarnarsson and Kari Arnason.

It took an own goal from Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson and a late penalty from Mbappe to level, and Deschamps will know a much-improved performance will be required when Joachim Low’s Germany make the short trip across the border on Tuesday for their Nations League match.

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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