FROM LEFT: France’s Jordan Veretout, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele, Jules Kounde and Eduardo Camavinga attend a training session at the Al Sadd SC training centre ina Doha yesterday.
Doha: Defending champions France are not having an ideal preparation for tomorrow’s World Cup showdown against Argentina with players missing training due to cold-like symptoms.
Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman missed yesterday’s training session as Les Bleus gear up for the final to be played at Lusail Stadium.
The virus hit the France camp before the semi-final against Morocco with Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano missing the clash on Wednesday. The duo, however returned as France trained at Al Sadd SC training centre yesterday.
France star Ousmane Dembele played down the illness, hoping the affected players will be available for the title clash.
“Dayot, after a day I went to see him with my mask on and he was much better. For the players and the staff it doesn’t worry us. We just took precautions,” Dembele told reporters yesterday.
“Dayot and Adrien had headaches and stomachaches. I made them honey and ginger tea. We hope everyone will be better for the final.”
France coach Didier Deschamps on Wednesday said air conditioning may be reason behind the illnesses.
“The air conditioning is on all the time and so we have had a few cases of flu-like symptoms but we will try to avoid it spreading,” he said.
“The players put in so much effort on the pitch and so their immune systems suffer. Your body is weakened and you are more prone to getting infected.”
Meanwhile, Aurelien Tchouameni and Theo Hernandez worked indoors, also missing the training session yesterday.
We want to win the World Cup: Dembele
France, looking to become the first side to win back-to-back world titles after Brazil in 1962, stand in Lionel Messi and Argentina’s way in their quest for glory.
It is Messi’s last chance to win the World Cup that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career.
“It would be good for his career that Messi wins the World Cup but we also want to win the World Cup,” said Dembele, who was Messi’s Barcelona teammate before the Argentina captain moved to Paris Saint-Germain.
“We are the French team in the World Cup final. We are fighting for our team, our country. All the players and the French people want to win the World Cup and bring back the third trophy,” he added.
Dembele said Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are better than the side France faced in the last-16 clash at 2018 World Cup which France won 4-3.
“We want to prepare well for this final. It will be a great day and we are ready for this fight against a difficult opponent. Argentina are better than in 2018.”
France forward Randal Kolo Muani, who came off the bench to score the team’s second goal in the 2-0 semi-final win against Morocco on Wednesday, agreed.
“Argentina are a big team. They have elements everywhere. There is Lionel Messi who is a very great player. We have worked well and I think we will be ready for Sunday,” said the 24-year-old before adding there are no favourites in the title clash.
France are expected to encounter immense support for Argentina at the Lusail Stadium expected to be filled with 88,000 spectators but Muani said it’s not a worry for Les Bleus.
“We are a little used to this kind of atmosphere in our clubs. It motivates us even if it is not for us. We are not destabilised because we are concentrated. We’re focused and we’re training well,” he added.
