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Pogba dedicates World Cup win to Thai football team who survived cave ordeal
PAUL POGBA DEDICATED France’s World Cup semi-final win against Belgium to the 12 boys who survived a harrowing ordeal trapped underground in Thailand.
The final five members of a young football team were rescued from a flooded Thai cave yesterday after spending 18 harrowing days trapped deep inside, completing an astonishing against-the-odds rescue mission that captivated the world.
Elite foreign divers and Thai Navy Seals extracted the final batch of four boys, plus the 25-year-old coach, via a treacherous escape route that required them to squeeze through narrow, water-filled tunnels in darkness.
Following the 1-0 win in Saint Petersburg, Manchester United midfielder Pogba tweeted:
Fifa boss Gianni Infantino had invited the boys’ Wild Boars football team to Sunday’s World Cup final last week, while Manchester United welcomed them to Old Trafford for a game this season and England defender Kyle Walker says he will be sending them jerseys.
But Fifa said it had been informed “that due to medical reasons, the boys will not be in a position to travel to Moscow”.
The Thai footballers, aged from 11 to 16, had been stuck deep underground after setting off to explore the cave with their coach after training on June 23.
Fifa also expressed condolences to the family of a Thai Navy Seal who died after running out of oxygen during the rescue operation on Friday. “Our thoughts are with his family,” Fifa said.
© – AFP, 2018
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