BRASILIA, Brazil – Paul Pogba finally delivered the big-game goal that France needed from its most exciting young talent, picking his spot with a late header to help France beat Nigeria 2-0 and reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Monday.
The 21-year-old Pogba had been feeling the pressure at the World Cup, and that looked set to continue when he rushed a chance to put France ahead in a tightly-contested first half.
But Pogba, who had been dropped by coach Didier Deschamps for a 5-2 win against Switzerland, chose the perfect time to score.
Showing the poise that France counted on him to provide, Pogba peeled slightly off a packed Nigeria defense to give himself a yard to attack the loose ball after goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama fumbled a corner in the 79th minute.