PAUL POGBA MAKING HIS MARK ON THE SOCCER WORLD BRIAN TRUSDELL
Paul Pogba brings the ball upfield for France during the team's World Cup qualifying game against the Netherlands in Amsterdam
Chapter 1 POGBOOM More than 50,000 fans most of them dressed in orange filled the stands at the Amsterdam Arena loudly cheering the Netherlands national soccer team Some waved flags and banners Many hurled insults at the opposing French national team But in an instant they all went silent French defender Laurent Koscielny intercepted a pass near the midfield line He quickly sent it to teammate Dimitri Payet on the left Then Payet squared the ball into the middle of the field His unmarked teammate Paul Pogba received it Pogba a central midfielder took one touch forward The Dutch captain Kevin Strootman gave Pogba space Positioned 35 yards from the goal Pogba sensed his opportunity So the Frenchman wound up and unleashed a rocket of a shot The ball knuckled swerved and dipped to the left Dutch goalie Maarten Stekelenburg dived He was able to get his hands to the ball but that was not enough The ball glanced off his fingers and deflected into the net
