France is the defending World Cup champions and as such, the truth that it has performed its means right into a second-straight remaining will not be essentially an altogether stunning end result by itself. However it’s value maybe reframing France’s run to the ultimate not as a juggernaut group operating it again, however as a masterwork of resilience that’s largely attributable to France’s gorgeous depth. Sure, Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann are nonetheless on the coronary heart of this group, but France started the match with out Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Karim Benzema, Presnel Kimpembe, and Christopher Nkunku, and beginning left again Lucas Hernandez tore his ACL in France’s first recreation. Benzema may be eligible to play within the remaining, although France continues to be, proper as much as the final recreation of the match, coping with contemporary slings and arrows. Which is an indirect solution to state what’s presently taking place: everyone seems to be sick with the flu and crapping themselves.
“In Doha, temperatures have fallen a little bit, you have air conditioning which is on all the time,” French supervisor Didier Deschamps stated after his group’s semifinal win in opposition to 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.”
“It’s a small bug, which has spread, but there’s nothing serious,” stated Randal Kolo Muani, who scored the game-sealing objective in opposition to Morocco, in his fourth worldwide recreation, together with his first contact. “They’ll be on their feet on Sunday.” Per The Athletic, a French press officer added: “As you know, Randal is not a doctor.”
Deschamps needed to give Youssouf Fofana his seventh cap in opposition to Morocco within the semifinal as a result of Pogba’s alternative, Adrien Rabiot, was so sick with the flu that he couldn’t even attend the sport. Dayot Upamecano, who additionally began the sport in opposition to England, additionally needed to sit out France’s 2-0 win over Morocco. Issues have solely gotten worse. Per ESPN, Upamecano’s alternative, Ibrahima Konaté, was briefly room-bound, whereas his middle again accomplice Rafael Varane and ahead Kingsley Coman are additionally sick sufficient they needed to prepare away from the remainder of the group. Mission-critical starters Aurélien Tchouaméni and Theo Hernandez additionally needed to miss follow with common, old style accidents.
France’s regular progress to the ultimate is a testomony to their depth, although largely, I believe it’s an indicator of simply how particular Mbappé, Griezmann, and Giroud have been all through the match. It’s surprising to assume any participant might be the prime attacking drive on two World Cup-winning sides by age 23, however Mbappé has performed properly sufficient that it’s potential, even possible. To get there, France should hold with a tricky Argentina aspect regardless of the illness presently ripping by way of their group. However they’ve a secret weapon: Ousmane Dembélé’s kettle.
“No, we’re not scared of the virus,” he stated. “Dayot and Adrien had headaches. I made them a cup of tea with ginger and honey to help them relax.”
