There was like a void this Sunday in training for the Blues, an absence that is noticeable more than any other with the departure in the morning of the Golden Ball, Karim Benzema, package for the entire competition. They were therefore not 26, nor 25 for that matter, to start the warm-up on the field of Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, but 24 with the more surprising absence of Eduardo Camavinga.
Yet present at the press conference a few moments earlier, smiling as usual, the Real Madrid midfielder stayed warm, spared due to a minor inconvenience, it is said in the entourage of the Blues who did not wish to take any risk with the youngest of the group.
Good news, however, Raphaël Varane was present on the meadow. As was already the case the day before, the defense manager of the reigning world champions took part in training with the rest of the team, a light session without opposition, this time. The Mancunian who is recovering from a hamstring injury that occurred on October 22 against Chelsea (0-0) participated in small games normally before returning to finish the indoor session after a short half an hour, like several of his teammates. (Lloris, Rabiot, the Hernandez brothers, Pavard, Upamecano).
“Varane will be available”
48 hours before the entry into the running of the Blues in this World Cup, against Australia on Tuesday evening (8 p.m., TF 1), the staff had not planned to force, neither with its defender, nor with the rest of the group. . Despite the scar linked to the loss of its star player, the players of the France team did not show the slightest pain. The atmosphere was good-natured, joyful, with lodgers such as Ousmane Dembélé who, with the rest of the attackers, midfielders but also Jules Koundé, ended up with a striking exercise in front of goal. Olivier Giroud, who will surely be at the forefront of the tricolor attack against the Socceroos, showed a certain skill, not bothered for a penny by the slight drop in temperatures (24 degrees Celsius and a little cool wind). Kingsley Coman and Kylian Mbappé also scored a few nice goals before all these beautiful people returned to the locker room, quietly, to then take the road to their base camp for dinner.
A final training before launching the competition is scheduled for Monday, November 21, at 7 p.m. (French time), in the same enclosure of the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. The opportunity for Raphaël Varane, in particular, to test himself one last time on a session which could not be less intense. “He will be available for Tuesday”, guaranteed Didier Deschamps, at the microphone of Téléfoot. It remains to be seen whether he will start the meeting. In its wake, the Konaté-Upamecano pair stands ready. The coach and captain Hugo Lloris will be at a press conference this Monday around 10 a.m. to give the latest news from the tricolor group.
The probable team against Australia: Lloris (cap) – Pavard, Varane (or Upamecano), Konaté, L. Hernandez – Rabiot, Tchouameni – Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé – Giroud.