France national team faces more difficulties ahead of the World Cup finals against Argentina as a mysterious illness decimates their players.
The camel virus that struck France’s team earlier in the Qatar tournament has worsened.
Three players from the France national team were earlier reported to have contracted the virus.
Now, two new players have reportedly been hit ahead of their World Cup final clash with Argentina on Sunday, December 18.
Since the Qatar World Cup tournament began, a quite number of players have been down with illnesses but France has been one of the worst hits so far in the tournament.
Adrien Rabiot was completely out of the French squad for the semi-final victory against Morocco on Wednesday, December 14, while Bayern Munich teammates Dayot Upamecano and Kingsley Coman were unused substitutes after contracting the virus.
The Juventus midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, and Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano both missed France’s semi-final while Kingsley Coman complained of having a fever ahead of Sunday’s finals.
Now, according to the French outlet L’Equipe report, Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate have both been hit with illnesses as well.
Manchester United’s Raphael Varane and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate are the latest French players to suffer from illness ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday.
The two essential players Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate are now serious concerns for the France coach Didier Deschamps as they could miss out on the game against Argentina.
While Rabiot and Upamecano returned to training on Thursday, the report has it that the symptoms, though mild for Varane but more serious for Konate and the duo remain a doubt for Sunday’s final.
Meanwhile, a statement from the France Football Federation on Friday, December 16, confirmed that Varane, Coman, and Konate would not train together with other players and would instead work out in the gym.
The FFF official statement read: “Raphaël Varane, Kingsley Coman, and Ibrahima Konaté are spared and will not take part in the collective session today on the field but will have a session in the gym.”
Seeing the likes of Upamecano, Varane, and Konate training in isolation might leave the France coach Didier Deschamps in a difficult situation with these players unlikely to be used on Sunday.
It does raise a real problem as Didier Deschamps has seen his World Cup final preparations hit by a mysterious virus.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid star and 2021/22 Ballon d’Or victor Karim Benzema, who pulled out of the French squad due to an injury sustained on the eve of the tournament is not expected to rejoin the French squad.
The Real Madrid star Benzema was in action in a friendly match for Madrid this week after he was fully back to training but despite being left on the France squad list, Benzema is not due to fly back and won’t play in the finals.
We will have to wait until France’s group training session begins at 5 pm UK time to know which players can make the final and which would be missing the Qatar World Cup final.
