When Didier Deschamps appeared at the press conference, the first thing he was asked was how he was doing. Actually a nice change in these rounds, just ask a polite question to the coach of the French national team. How are you feeling one day before the World Cup final against Argentina? Are you excited? Did you sleep well? But the question was more fundamental. More in context: Are you sick too?
Deschamps said straight out: “I’m fine”, but after that he didn’t really manage to reassure his compatriots. Because for a few days, Les Bleus have been confronted with something that the French newspaper Le Monde calls the “mysterious virus”. Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano were already out in the semifinals due to flu symptoms, but now Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté have apparently been caught before the final, i.e. the entire central defence. Kingsley Coman is also said to have a fever. Theo Hernández and Aurélien Tchouaméni are out with knee and hip bruises.
These would be significant losses; but who in the French camp is healthy or sick at the moment is not entirely clear. Deschamps did not explain further either. When he left for the press conference, everyone was still asleep, so he had no news about sick leave. “We’re trying to deal with the situation as best we can. We’re staying calm and focused,” said the 54-year-old. “Obviously we would prefer not to have this difficulty, but we are trying to manage it as best we can with the help of our doctors.”
That sounded less encouraging than the statements made the day before by Ousmane Dembélé and Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani. Dembélé reported making ginger and honey tea for his comrades. “It’s a little flu,” said Kolo Muani. His teammates will be fit for the final. The spokesman then pointed out directly that Kolo Muani was “not a doctor”.
Deschamps responds briefly to the question about Benzema
It is unclear whether it is a case of a Covid outbreak, in Qatar there have been virtually no corona rules since the start of the World Cup. However, after the semi-final against Morocco, helpers handed masks to all journalists who met the French players in the interview zone. After the game, Deschamps blamed the ubiquitous air conditioning in Qatar for the health of his players. Almost every place in Doha, whether it’s a hotel, a bus or even an entire stadium, is cooled. The temperature differences between outside and inside are often significant. Other teams suffered as well. Switzerland scored before the round of 16 against Portugal, and the Brazilians also coughed at times. Their player Antony also suspected air conditioning as the cause of the malaise, as did US coach Gregg Berhalter.
Deschamps was also short on a completely different topic. The name Karim Benzema has been haunting his team since the semifinals and the coach clearly doesn’t like it. The world footballer was out at the start of the tournament with a muscle injury, he’s fit again now and because he’s still a regular part of the squad, he could theoretically be fielded. “I don’t feel like answering that question,” Deschamps said after the semi-final against Morocco on the subject of Benzema’s return. Before the final he became clear again. He is concentrating on his 24 players who are here. “I don’t know who might come and support the team,” said Deschamps harshly.
Benzema is currently training at Real Madrid’s compound. He is said to have declined President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to travel to the final.
(Photo: Christophe Ena/dpa)
Benzema has a special history with the France national team. He was kicked out of the team in 2015 over strong suspicions that he had helped blackmail team-mate Mathieu Valbuena. Six years later, the verdict followed, a year’s imprisonment on probation and a fine of 75,000 euros. Deschamps only pardoned him in 2021 and nominated him for the national team again. But the French became world champions in 2018 with Olivier Giroud, who is also very popular in the team. Deschamps put him back on after Benzema’s muscle injury, many observers believe that this did not harm the team atmosphere, quite the contrary. Benzema is currently training at Real Madrid’s compound, the newspaper reported on Saturday Le Parisienhe had declined President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to travel to the final.
Both – Benzema and the flu – are in any case construction sites that you don’t necessarily need as a national coach before a World Cup final. The only advantage Deschamps can take from the situation is that he has left not only the public but also opponents Argentina largely in the dark as to who exactly will play for the French. But given the choice, Deschamps would probably prefer 24 healthy players.