For 22 minutes we kept the ball, and it was the hardest thing that squad has ever done.
The 9th minute is the one I would show you.
Thud. Bounou rolled it out to Saïss. Saïss to Benatia, square, no risk. Benatia stood on it for 2 seconds while Griezmann came at him and then slid it into El Ahmadi's feet with Griezmann 3 yards away.
Tk. El Ahmadi took it on the half-turn and gave it to Boussoufa.
And Boussoufa had Paul Pogba on his back.
33 years old, playing his football in the United Arab Emirates, a man whose entire career happened in places the cameras do not go. He took it on the outside of his right foot, rolled his hip, and came off Pogba like a man getting off a bus.
Thwack. Wide to Hakimi. Hakimi 15 yards up the line, checked, came back inside.
Thwack. Sofyan. Sofyan first time, no touch, straight back into Boussoufa.
Boussoufa turned again. Kanté arrived, skhh, boots and water off the wet grass, and Boussoufa gave it to Mendyl before he got there.
