Kingsley Coman becomes the THIRD France star to suffer from a virus after Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot, reveals manager Didier Deschamps, as the World Cup holders face a major availability crisis ahead of Sunday’s final against Argentina
Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Kingsley Coman is the third French player suffering from a virus in Qatar, with Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano already fighting for fitness ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina.
France ended Morocco’s fairytale World Cup journey with a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals on Wednesday, thanks to goals from left-back Theo Hernandez and substitute Randal Kolo Muani.
Rabiot and Upamecano, who had been regular fixtures in Deschamps’ side until the semi-final, were forced to sit out against the Atlas Lions after falling ill with flu-like symptoms.
France manager Didier Deschamps has revealed that Kingsley Coman is suffering from illness
Coman did not play in France’s 2-0 semi-final win against Morocco after picking up the virus
France are concerned about a virus known as ‘the camel’ and lodged Rabiot in an isolated hotel as a result, although it is not yet confirmed whether the French squad is suffering from this specific fever.
Deschamps confirmed on Thursday that Coman, who did not participate against Morocco, had also gone down with what appears to be the same virus.
‘Coman also had a fever this morning,’ the manager revealed.
‘In Doha, the temperatures have dropped a bit and you still have air conditioning on all the time. We have had a few cases of flu-like symptoms.
Dayot Upamecano (L) and Adrien Rabiot (R) have also been suffering from the virus this week
‘We are trying to be careful so that it does not spread and the players have put in a great effort on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.
‘Dayot Upamecano felt bad immediately after the game against England. It happens when you exert yourself so much, your body weakens and you are more prone to getting these viruses.
‘We’re taking all the necessary precautions, we’re trying to make sure it doesn’t spread, but viruses are of course infectious and we have to take precautions against them.
France are bidding to become the first side to triumph in back-to-back World Cups since 1962
‘We’ll separate him from the others and from Adrien as well.’
France are bidding to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Meanwhile, all-time great Lionel Messi, who is equal in the golden boot race with five goals alongside French talisman Kylian Mbappe, is hoping to add the elusive World Cup trophy to his impressive portfolio of titles.
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