FRANCE’S preparations for the Qatar 2022 World Cup final have been disrupted with a virus hitting the team’s camp.
The defending champions could be without their starting central defence pairing in Sunday’s final against Argentina as both Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate have been affected, according to reports.
Varane has small symptoms of the virus and fellow centre-back Konate has not left his room after feeling ill, reports from Qatar claimed.
France coach Didier Deschamps said they were taking precautions to stop the virus spreading through the squad after Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot missed the semi-final win over Morocco on Wednesday due to sickness.
“In Doha, temperatures have fallen a little bit, you have air conditioning which is on all the time,” Deschamps said after the win against Morocco.
“We’ve had a few cases of flu-like symptoms. We are trying to be careful so it doesn’t spread, and players have made great efforts out on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.”
Juventus midfielder Rabiot and Bayern Munich defender Upamecano returned to training earlier today and Deschamps said they could play against Argentina on Sunday.
“Dayot will be fit. Since Saturday he wasn’t well for three days … had a fever, and that had an impact on his strength,” the coach said after the semi-final.
“Given the tough match we had, I decided not to play him and play Konate instead as he’s shown he’s good enough to play at this level.
“Rabiot was sick, was better this afternoon but not well enough, so he stayed in the hotel. We have four days to rest, so he should be better and available for Sunday.”
France have been unlucky with injuries and illnesses before and during this World Cup, with key players Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez and Christopher Nkunku all out of the tournament.
