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Pogba has Deschamps to thank for avoiding semi-final ban with France

France boss Didier Deschamps acknowledged he needed to step in and calm Paul Pogba in the World Cup quarter-final win over Uruguay out of fears the midfield star could have picked up a ban for the semi-final.

Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann sent Les Bleus into the last four with a 2-0 victory at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Friday.

There was a flashpoint in the second half when players clashed following what looked to be a dive from Kylian Mbappe, and Pogba was seen grabbing Nahitan Nandez around the head in the confrontation.