DOHA — France coach Didier Deschamps was sweating on
the fitness of several key players on Saturday as his team battled a mystery
virus on the eve of the World Cup final against Argentina.
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With little more than 24 hours to go before the world
champions face Lionel Messi and Argentina at Doha’s Lusail Stadium on Sunday,
France have been left reeling by a viral outbreak that is believed to have
affected five players so far.
Central defenders Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate, and
winger Kingsley Coman were the latest players to be laid low by the illness,
forced to miss a training session on Friday.
That came two days after Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano
were ruled out of Wednesday’s semifinal victory over Morocco.
Players, staff, and other sources close to the French squad
have spoken of a range of symptoms affecting the team in recent days including
fever, stomach pain, and headaches.
“We are trying to take as many precautions as possible, to
adapt as necessary and get on with it,” Deschamps said at a press conference.
“Obviously it would be better if this wasn’t happening but
we are handling it as well as possible with our medical staff.”
There was a more encouraging bulletin from the French camp
later Saturday after all 24 members of Deschamps’ squad took to the field at
the start of a final team training.
It was not clear if all players played a full part in the
session, however, which was only open to the media for the first 15 minutes.
The virus scare threatens to derail France’s bid become the
first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil achieved the feat in 1962.
Standing in their way are an Argentina team led by Paris
Saint-Germain superstar Messi, who is looking to cap his glittering career with
the one major title that has eluded him.
Anticipation for the showdown between the European and South
American heavyweights is reaching fever pitch, with the cheapest tickets on the
secondary market changing hands for more than $4,000.
Argentina fans who have flooded into Qatar for the
tournament demonstrated for a second day outside a Doha hotel on Friday,
demanding their country’s national federation help them find tickets for the
final.
Around 30,000-40,000 Argentina fans have been present at
most of the team’s matches in Doha, and Sunday looks certain to be no exception
against France.
“It’s like we’re playing at home,” Argentina goalkeeper
Emiliano Martinez said on Saturday.
“We feel it before the match, during the match. It’s like
playing in Argentina. That’s a great advantage.”
Martinez, one of the heroes of Argentina’s run to the final
after his penalty-saving exploits in a quarter-final victory over the
Netherlands, says the South American champions are unfazed at being portrayed
as underdogs for Sunday’s final.
“We always like to hear that the opponent is the favorite
because we don’t feel superior or inferior to them,” Martinez said.
“People say the favorites are France. But we have the
greatest player of all time.”
France’s challenge will be spearheaded by Messi’s PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe, who at 23 could become the youngest player to win two
World Cups since Pele achieved the feat at the age of 21.
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