Varane, Hernandez, Tchouaméni… Five players who had the flu or were slightly injured in recent days took part in the Les Bleus training session this Saturday in Doha.
The twenty-four players of the France team were present this Saturday at the last training before the World Cup final against Argentina, with in particular the returns of Raphaël Varane, Ibrahima Konaté and Kingsley Coman, sick and absent the day before.
The reigning world champions showed up in full for the first quarter of an hour open to the media on Saturday in Doha. Théo Hernandez (knee) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (hip), spared Friday due to bruises, according to the Federation, have also returned.
Several players from the France team had been affected by a virus in recent days. Dayot Upamecano, Adrien Rabiot and Kingsley Coman were the first to show symptoms, which prevented them from participating in the semi-final on Wednesday evening against Morocco (2-0). The disease then caught up with Varane and Konaté, the two holders in the axis of the defense against the Atlas Lions. They missed practice on Friday, being “housed” as a precaution according to the framework. We must therefore believe that the “remedy” prescribed by Ousmane Dembelé, “a small tea with ginger and honey”, benefited them.
“We make sure to take as many precautions as possible, to adapt, to deal with it without going overboard on either side”coach Didier Deschamps commented more seriously at a press conference, referring to “different situations that are not similar” depending on the players.
“We are never prepared for this kind of thing”
Sanitary precautions have been taken at the Hôtel des Bleus, with the provision of hydroalcoholic gel, respect for barrier gestures and isolation of infected players. But the Covid-19 screening tests are no longer imposed by Fifa, organizer of the tournament.
“We are never prepared for this kind of thing, but we try to prepare in the best way”for his part assured captain Hugo Lloris to the press. “These are hazards. But that doesn’t take away the concentration, the excitement you can have on the eve of a World Cup final.
France, holders of the title, will face Argentina at the Lusail stadium on Sunday (4 p.m.) to clinch a third world title.