France national football team is worried ahead of their World Cup final clash with Argentina as three French players contract ‘the camel’ virus.
The defending champions, France have been dealt with another fitness issue ahead of the Qatar World Cup final match against Argentina on Sunday, December 18.
Before their semi-final victory against Morocco, it was confirmed that two of France’s players; Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot were unavailable after being hit by an illness.
The two players fell sick as a result of the ever-present air conditioning in their lodge in Qatar and weren’t risked for the clash with the African pride, Morocco, even though they were named on the bench.
The French boss Deschamps revealed that Upamecano fell ill after the England match.
He said: “Dayot Upamecano felt bad immediately after the game against England. It happens when you exert yourself so much, your body weakens and you are more prone to getting these viruses.”
“We’re taking all the necessary precautions, we’re trying to make sure it doesn’t spread, but viruses are of course infectious and we have to take precautions against them.
“We’ll separate him from the others and from Adrien as well.”
Now, France manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that a third player of his team, Kingsley Coman has been struck with illness.
The French boss confirmed that Coman picked up the illness after he started to show flu symptoms before the semifinal on Wednesday.
And as a result of that, the Bayern Munich winger, Coman couldn’t be used for the match and also missed lunch with his teammates as he was sitting out of France’s recovery session on Thursday evening.
As it stands, Kingsley Coman is a doubt for the World Cup final with Argentina after the winger missed training due to illness.
French manager Deschamps said: “Coman also had a fever this morning (Thursday).
“In Doha, the temperatures have dropped a bit and you still have air conditioning on all the time. We have had a few cases of flu-like symptoms.
“We are trying to be careful so that it does not spread and the players have put in a great effort on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.”
Kingsley Coman will be fighting for fitness to make the squad for the World Cup final.
Also, Real Madrid and 2021/22 Ballon d’Or victor Karim Benzema could make a remarkable return to France camp ahead of the final with Argentina.
Karim Benzema was ruled out of the Qatar World Cup after the forward picked up a thigh injury on the eve of the Qatar tournament.
But Benzema has returned to training at Real Madrid and the French boss Deschamps could call upon the veteran striker, who is still registered as part of France’s 26-man squad following Deschamps’s choice to reserve the spot for him.
In the same vein, Adrien Rabiot and Upamecano are both sets and could take part in the finals as the duo is now feeling better after being hit with sickness.
Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, and Antoine Griezmann all picked up minor knocks in the semifinals against Morocco, but the trio is expected to be in sturdy form against Argentina on Sunday.
Les Bleus are looking forward to becoming the first country to win back-to-back World Cup trophies since Brazil won it in 1958 and 1962.
However, the World Cup final will no doubt be a tough hurdle for France against Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina’s team.
France will take on Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm.
