Paul Pogba's combination of discipline and creativity at this World Cup has been spellbinding… he has shown for France what he can do for Manchester United with right set-up around him

 Rio Fredinand perhaps summed it up best after France beat Belgium to seal their spot in the World cup Final: 'Today we saw why Manchester United paid so much for Paul Pogba.'

That we did. Over 90 minutes, Pogba managed 100 per cent of his take-ons, 90 per cent passing accuracy, won four tackles, created three chances and was an overall handful.

It was a mature performance, and one of a combination of discipline and creativity, though the 25-year-old midfielder has shown this throughout the tournament in Russia.

Pogba has produced the second-most forward passes at the World Cup from midfield, behind only fellow finalist Luka Modric of Croatia. A couple of those split Belgium's defence wide open.

He has also made the fourth-most passes into the final third, despite also displaying fine defensive work for Didier Deschamps' side en route to Sunday's showdown in Moscow.

With his help, France are now one win from being crowned world champions. Unfortunately with that comes the scrutiny of his club performances for Jose Mourinho's United.

The laziest option would be to point the finger at Mourinho, which plenty of supporters on social media have already done. 'Shame Jose puts the shackles on him,' one wrote.

Last season in the Premier League, Pogba often found himself criticised.

Sometimes rightly, such as when he would try to do too much when around his own box. Sometimes wrongly, when team-mates were not helping him out.

Pep Guardiola did not help take the spotlight off him when he claimed Manchester City were offered the midfielder by their neighbours ahead of their match in April.

All eyes were on Pogba at the Etihad Stadium as a result and not just because of his blue-streaked hair. He scored twice in two minutes in the second half, United won 3-2 and City's title celebrations were delayed.

He is capable of a spellbinding performance for United. For France, he has been doing it consistently, and it is not as if he has dodged his defensive work.

Deschamps would not allow such a thing and Pogba himself has acknowledged: 'I think people judge me now on my role as a midfielder and not as a player who can score goals and make assists.'

When you study Pogba's statistics for club and country, if anything, they appear to show he does more for United than France in attack.

He scores on average every 190 minutes for his club but 335 for his country. He shoots more, creates more, passes more successfully, according to Opta.

Yet fans want more, and so does Mourinho. By making himself a contender for the World Cup's team of the tournament, however, Pogba has shown what he is capable of.

source: dailymail