Izuchukwu OkosiThree French players – Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman – are racing against time to be fit enough for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final against Argentina.
The trio sat out training on Friday with cold-like symptoms two days before the World Cup final, a source close to the team revealed to the media.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelComan, the Bayern Munich winger, had already been forced to miss a training session on Thursday because of a “light viral syndrome,” the French Football Federation (FFF) said.
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That could conceivably lead to the arrival of Karim Benzema in camp as he is still registered for the World Cup despite the injury setback that saw him miss all the team’s matches so far in Qatar.
Coman was an unused substitute in the 2-0 win against Morocco in Wednesday’s semi-final.
The condition of two other French players – Varane and Konate – will cause France coach Didier Deschamps more concern as they formed the central defensive partnership against Morocco.
Konate had replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence for the semi-final after he was ruled out by illness.
Adrien Rabiot, who has played a key role in France’s midfield in Qatar, was also sidelined with illness for the semi-final.
France forward Randal Kolo Muani said in a press conference on Friday: “There is little bit of flu going around but nothing serious.”
Argentina on the other hand have not experienced similar fate as all the players are keen to play in Sunday’s final at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.
Lionel Messi however is said not to have completed the training session Friday evening albeit there was no official news by the South American side on the reasonfor that.
The final, preceded by a closing ceremony will kick off at 4pm Nigerian time on Sunday evening. The third place final between Croatia and Morocco on Saturday will also be played at 4pm Nigerian time.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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