Fifa World Cup: Paul Pogba dedicates France semi-final win to Thai soccer team after cave rescue by Navy Seals

Paul Pogba has dedicated France’s World Cup semi-final win against Belgium to the young Thai football team who were rescued from a flooded cave earlier on Tuesday.

The last of the 12 boys and their coach were freed a few hours before the match kicked off at the St Petersburg Stadium in Russia.

After reaching the final, which takes place in Moscow on Sunday, Pogba posted a message of support on Twitter for the Wild Boars team, who had been trapped for more than two weeks after the Tham Luang cave they were exploring became flooded by rain.

Alongside pictures of the boys, the Manchester United midfielder wrote the 1-0 victory “goes to the heroes of the day”.

Pogba added: “Well done boys, you are so strong.”

The team had been invited by Fifa to watch Pogba and his France teammates face either England or Croatia in the final at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.

However, world football’s governing body announced the boys would not be able to attend the game because they are still receiving medical treatment.

The boys, who have been taken to hospital in the nearest city of Chiang Rai, were saved after a daring rescue mission by Thai Navy seals.

Tragically, former Navy Seal diver Saman Kunont died after bringing oxygen to the junior team, as he ran out of oxygen for himself on his way back to the cave entrance.

Several other prominent figures in football have wished the boys well, with Manchester United offering to host the team for a match at Old Trafford next season.

One of the young boys was pictured wearing an England shirt in the cave, and Three Lions defender Kyle Walker offered to send the whole team some England shirts.