France manager Didier Deschamps has given an update on the fitness of a number of his players who have been struck down by illness ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina.
On the eve of the showpiece event in Qatar, Les Bleus have a number of players suffering with illness as they aim to retain their status as world champions. Defenders Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate did not train on Friday, with the pair reportedly the latest to be struck down after Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano and Kingsley Coman felt unwell for Wednesday evening’s 2-0 semi-final win over Morocco.
Varane, Konate and Coman did train on Saturday to allay fears of a defensive fitness crisis for Deschamps heading into the final. Rabiot watched the Morocco game from the team hotel while Upamecano and Coman were unused substitutes as Deschamps revealed after the match his plans to isolate anyone showing signs of illness away from the rest of his squad.
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Speaking ahead of the final on Sunday, Deschamps said the team are taking "maximum precautions" to avoid spreading the virus further.
“As far as the players are concerned, they were all sleeping when I left this morning,” he said. “We are managing it as best we can, with tranquillity, according to the different situations [of each player]. We'll keep across the information in order to be ready for this great match.
“I don't want to go into details, but we're making sure to take the maximum precautions and to adapt to the situation, without going overboard in one direction or the other."
France captain Hugo Lloris believes the “adrenaline and excitement” of a World Cup final will ensure all his team-mates are fit to play. “We are going to try and do our best in spite of the circumstances,” he said.
“I think thanks to the adrenaline and the excitement we will feel we will all be fit enough and ready to do whatever we can to win this last battle. In the past we have proved that French teams who have been successful have always based that success on a strong team spirit.
“So we try to draw from that, there is a very good feeling in the camp since the beginning of the tournament and there is no reason why that shouldn’t be the same again tomorrow. You’re never really prepared for that type of thing but we are trying to get ready for this match the best we can, these are things for which we weren’t necessarily prepared but we remain focused and of course we are very excited to play in a World Cup final.”
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