France midfielder, Paul Pogba has said that he knows the taste of losing a final and will work against such heartbreak when his squad play Croatia at the 2018 World Cup final on Sunday.
Pogba said that the Les Blues are determined not to make the same mistakes they did two years ago in losing the Euro 2016 final at home to Portugal when they face the Croats at the Luzhniki Stadium.
France qualified for the World Cup final after beating Belgium 1-0 on Tuesday, while Croatia beat England 2-1.
“We are conscious of the situation, we do not want to make the same mistakes like two years ago,” Pogba told reporters ahead of Croatia clash.
“We want to work for it, to give everything we have to take this Cup home.
“I think at the Euro we thought it was already a done deal, the mentality was not the same as now.
“I cannot lie that when we beat Germany we thought that was the final. I know the taste of losing a final. I don’t want it to happen again.
“Against Portugal we thought we had won it before the start of the game. That will not happen again.”
He added, “Croatia came from a goal down against England on Wednesday to win 2-1 in extra time.
“That is not a sign of a struggling team, but one that has a lot of talent.
“The Croats had a very difficult match and they were behind. But they are mentally very strong. There are two teams in the final, a Cup and there are 90 minutes more.
“For us, we are not the favourites. We stay as we are from the start of the tournament. We have no doubts, we play together, that’s our strength. We are chasing something and will do everything to succeed.
“For sure the Croats they want the star (for winning the title) they have had a good run.
“They want to win. But I have no star either although there is one on my shirt. I want mine.
“The Croats are not just Modric. They have (Mario) Mandzukic, (Ivan) Rakitic and (Ivan) Perisic.
“Even their defenders are outstanding players. I don’t think there is a plan just for Modric. The plan is to win the match.”
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