The French breakwater Kante has the world cup of his life

By Karolos Grohmann

MOSCOW (Reuters) – It's easy to ignore the diminutive N & # 39; Golo Kante in the midst of the FIFA World Cup team that includes players more than 100 million dollars like Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann

But when the French face Croatia on Sunday in the final of the World Cup, Kante has contributed as much to this success if not more than the great teammates, as all the opponents of France in Russia can testify.

The 27-year-old does not have the stature of his midfielder Pogba, nor does he have the blistering speed of Mbappe or Griezmann's ability to score goals.

However, he has "15 lungs", according to Pogba, an incomparable work ethic and a unique ability to read the game like few others, a fact that makes him a unique wall as a semi-finalists beaten that Belgium can attest after helping to neutralize its famous offensive threat. Playing in front of the defenders, for much of his career Kante ab He had gone unnoticed in 2013 when he was playing in the second division of France.

It was not until arriving at Leicester City in 2015 that the world began to notice the player patrolling the area in front of his defense.

Leicester's frantic race for the Premier League in 2016 was as much tied to Kante's interceptions and tackles as to James Vardy's goals

. this season, he had more tackles and interceptions than any other Premier League player.

But the French 1.68m tall was just warming up. His move to Chelsea may have surprised some players at the time, but by the end of the 2016/17 season, there was no doubt about one of the best defensive midfielders to the world

"NG is still very reserved, very calm and very shy," Pogba said on Thursday. "Except when he plays cards."

"We understand each other very well, we talk, we give ourselves advice, it's a very special relationship, it's a great guy."

France could win Sunday, while everyone could greet their big names, Pogba, Griezmann and Mbappe knew that any title would not have been possible without the tireless work of Kante in the midfield [ReportedKarolosGrohmann;parAmlanChakraborty)