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#3 Paul Pogba
Thursday’s UEFA Nations League semi-final pitted two of Premier League’s best midfielders against one another. However, while Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne was firing on all cylinders in the first half itself, Manchester United star Paul Pogba took his time to get going. No, the 2018 World Cup winner was not poor by any means in the first half, but he did not look as menacing as he could have been.
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In the second 45, Pogba came out with a clear head and renewed ambitions. He tackled expertly, intercepted potentially dangerous passes, and charged forward whenever an opportunity presented itself.
In the 88th minute, Pogba stood over a free-kick in an inviting position. He measured his shot and hit the top-right corner of the bar with his curling and dipping effort. The sweet strike deserved to be the winner for France, but the universe had other ideas. All in all, it was a memorable performance from Pogba, the perfect rehearsal dinner for Sunday’s showpiece event against Spain.
#2 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is one of the best strikers in the world right now. The Real Madrid man has registered 10 goals and seven assists in 10 matches, emerging once again as the club’s most influential player. Unsurprisingly, he carried his scintillating club form over to the UEFA Nations League semi-final.
Truth be told, Benzema didn't do much in the first half, just like most of his team-mates. However, Didier Deschamps was not ready to sub his star striker out, and for good reason. In typical fashion, Benzema created something out of nothing in the 62nd minute, giving France the lifeline they needed.
He picked up Mbappe’s ball just inside the area, but with his back towards goal. Despite being swarmed by four Belgian defenders, Benzema somehow created a couple of inches of space and put his left foot through the ball. His club team-mate Thibaut Courtois had no answer as the ball nestled into the far corner.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain star and France’s posterboy Kylian Mbappe ran the show for France on Thursday night. Like all of his team-mates, he improved considerably in the second half, but he was quite menacing in the first 45 as well. His runs down the flanks were difficult for Belgium to contain, but he could not quite manage to apply the finishing touches in the first half.
He came out all guns blazing in the second half of the second UEFA Nations League semi-final and assisted Benzema’s world-class strike in the 62nd minute. Seven minutes later, he dispatched the perfect penalty to level the game for France, which pretty much sealed his Man of the Match award. Mbappe also completed the most dribbles (9) and won the most duels (12) in the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Belgium.
