Valbuena recalls the 2014 World Cup, calling Pogba the strongest player and regretting a golden opportunity missed against Germany.

According to L'Équipe, former French international Valbuena reminisced about the 2014 World Cup, discussing his regret over missing a shot against Neuer in the quarter-final against Germany, and evaluating his teammates and the atmosphere within the French squad.

Valbuena stated that the strongest player in the 2014 French team was undoubtedly Pogba: "He was still young, 21 years old, raw and wild, and his performances in training and matches were truly incredible. He had everything: technique, drive, ball control, long passes, and the ability to surge forward. He was physically strong and extremely versatile. Despite being so young and playing in his first World Cup, you'd think: 'What exactly is his weakness?' (laughs) Of course, there were others, like Benzema, who was technically the strongest, no doubt about it. 100% clinical in front of goal, with exceptional ball control and first touch."

When asked about the funniest person on the team, Valbuena said: "The craziest and funniest was Patrice Evra. He was like a captain, even without the armband, he took charge of the team. He was deeply respected. His kindness left a profound impression on me. He was the type who'd joke with anyone, even coach Deschamps, and he'd known Deschamps for years. Back in 2010 when things were very difficult, he could make me laugh (laughs). Can you imagine? He had great humor and was very intelligent—he really had me in stitches."

When asked about his best friend on the team, Valbuena said it was hard to choose: "There was Patrice, Steve Mandanda, and Olivier Giroud. The four of us often played Perudo, a dice game, in my room. It was a very special quartet. Karim would join us too. We'd also go to recovery training, sauna, and steam room together. I did all my warm-ups with Patrice, and he taught me a lot. Steve was quieter. Olivier looked very serious but actually loved to laugh."

Regarding the best match for France at that World Cup, Valbuena mentioned the second group stage match, the 5-2 victory over Switzerland: "That match was crucial; we dominated them. We knew it would be the toughest. We were up 3-0 at halftime, and our counterattacking was incredible. It was a brilliant performance. From that moment, you felt: 'We're really strong.' That generation had a fearless mentality, and more importantly, the coach had truly shaped the team into a cohesive unit. We all knew that the 2010 World Cup was a disaster. The turning point came after the 2-0 loss to Ukraine in the first leg of the playoff on November 15, 2013. The outside world was waiting to see how we'd perform. First there was 2010, then Euro 2012, where we struggled under Blanc. We couldn't afford to lose at the World Cup again, especially not in Brazil. We started with a clean slate."

When asked about one chance he'd like to relive, Valbuena answered: "It was my left-footed shot against Germany in the quarter-final. The score was still 0-0, and Neuer made an incredible save in the first half, parrying it off the post. I cried over that goal. Sometimes I replay it over and over in my mind like a film. Then I think: 'What if I'd scored?' I think that match might have been different, but who knows. After our elimination, Griezmann also cried—I remember it clearly. Antoine was very shy and humble when he first came. You could immediately tell that with his left foot, he'd achieve great things in the future. He didn't even know then that he'd lift the trophy four years later (laughs). Back to the Germany match, we were in Brazil, and after playing Nigeria, we really felt things shift. We said to each other: 'Damn, we can go far.' Then Hummels scored... We were knocked out at the Maracana, and Neuer made some crucial saves late on. When the goal went in, Varane was defending—he was still young then, 21 years old, and his shirt was even pulled—just small details..."

Speaking about a story he hadn't shared before, Valbuena said that after elimination, the team held a small celebration at their base: "The coaches told us: 'You're on holiday, but you've done beautifully, enjoy yourselves.' FFF President Noël Le Graët also came to see us and said: 'This is the beginning of a rebuild, the start of a great story.' What happened next proved him right. 2018, 2022—didn't it all start from that moment? We gathered together, knowing it was all over. After a few drinks, we said: 'Friends, the Euros are coming to our country in two years, we're going to win it.' Our team was truly great; we had a special understanding among us. At that point, I realized this team was ready to achieve great things."

When asked about Deschamps' biggest outburst during that World Cup, Valbuena said there weren't many: "Honestly, not many. The biggest was after we lost the first leg of the playoff against Ukraine. There was one after the match, and again the next day when we returned to base. He really tore into us! He said: 'What image do you want to project to the world? Your families are waiting for you in Brazil, and you're playing like this!' He was right."

As for the most underrated player in the 2014 French squad, Valbuena named Matuidi: "Completely underrated. He was a very consistent player who did almost all the dirty work. Sometimes in a 4-3-3 formation, he could cover the wing by himself. Yes, he wasn't the most technical, though he wasn't bad either. But the help he provided the team was incredibly valuable. He was also one of the few under Blanc in 2012 who didn't play a single minute, which was always a mystery. I have a good relationship with Blanc and see him occasionally. He himself has regrets. He told me: 'I don't know why I didn't play you and Blaise back then.'"

When asked about an old teammate he'd most like to see again, Valbuena said: "We stayed in touch for a while, but I'd really love to see Yohan Cabaye again. I really liked that guy. He's straightforward, kind, and calm. I greatly admired him as a person. As a player, his short and long passes are beautiful. You rarely hear anything about him. If he wants to, he should call me (laughs)."

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