Mondial-2022: “the virus” catches up with Varane and Konaté two days before the final
After Upamecano, Rabiot and Coman, it is the turn of Blues defenders Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté to be spared in training on Friday, two days before the final against Argentina. In question: the “virus” that has plagued the France team since the start of the week.
The mysterious “virus” that rages in the France team has caught up with two new victims: Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté. The starting center hinge in the semi-final against Morocco has, in turn, developed symptoms similar to those of Upamecano, Rabiot and Coman and are being spared in training. However, at a press conference and internally, the Blues show a reassuring face on Friday, December 16 as to their presence for the final against Argentina.
“There is a little flu that is spreading but nothing bad,” explained Randal Kolo Muani, the Blues striker, at a press conference on Friday afternoon. “Everyone will be well by Sunday. We hope.”
“We are not afraid of the virus”
“Randal is not a doctor, we will explain to you later”, tried to cut short the press chief of the Blues. A waste of time, the Frankfurt striker and Ousmane Dembélé were bombarded with questions on the subject.
“We are not afraid of the virus. Adrien [Rabiot] and Dayot [Upamecano] had headaches and stomach pains. I made them a little tea with honey and ginger and it was better”, smiled Ousmane Dembele. “I went to Dayot with my mask on. He’s going to be ready. He’s solid. Everyone’s going to be ready.”
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“All my teammates and I are careful. The doctors are setting up sanitary zones. We are not worried about that”, also tried to reassure Randal Kolo Muani. “The teammates concerned stay in their room. The doctors take care of them and the others use hydroalcoholic gel…”
Five players affected in one week
A total of five team players fell ill this week, reinforcing the hypothesis of a virus circulating within the Blues. Dayot Upamecano had to remain on the bench on Wednesday in the semi-final against Morocco (2-0), while Adrien Rabiot was forfeited.
Coman added himself to the roster and did not participate in Thursday’s practice. Coach Didier Deschamps said the Bayern Munich player “also felt a little nervous in the afternoon”.
Varane and Konaté, in turn, did not participate in collective training on Friday at the Jassim bin Hamad stadium, the Blues’ training center in Doha. A source close to the Blues evokes “probably” a cold snap to explain their diminished state. They trained separately indoors. Théo Hernandez and Aurélien Tchouaméni are also spared due to knee and hip contusions.
For the moment, the explanation given by the French team remains a “little viral syndrome”, without further details and without official communication on whether or not a test detecting Covid-19 is practiced.
