When Raphael Varane limped away from the World Cup final in extra-time yesterday there would have been hearts in mouths at Manchester United, yet in reality, the central defender had done brilliantly to last 113 minutes in the Lusail Stadium.
Varane was one of a few France players to come down with the bug that swept through the camp in the days between the semi-final on Wednesday and the final on Sunday, but he was ready to play and battled on against an inspired Argentina side for much of normal time.
The illness had kept Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot out of the last four clash with Morocco but Varane, who came into the tournament carrying an ankle injury, managed to play and battle on deep into extra-time. When the added time is taken into account Varane was on the pitch in the final for around 130 minutes, a herculean effort.
