2022 World Cup: Two more France players fall sick ahead of final against Argentina

The availability of Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate remains a concern for France ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina.

Didier Deschamps was without Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano, and Kingsley Coman for Wednesday’s semi-final match against Morocco due to illness. Kingsley Coman made the bench but was declared unfit to play.

Deschamps has taken efforts to try to prevent the illness bug from spreading throughout the camp; the virus is supposedly caused by the air conditioning systems at the team’s hotel.

Varane, a pivotal center-half, and Konate, who filled in for Upamecano against the Atlas Lions, are now reportedly dead, according to L’Equipe.

The Liverpool defender is reportedly more likely to miss the game than his Manchester United rival, who might miss the game due to illness.

Speaking after the win over Morocco a concerned Deschamps said; ‘In Doha, temperatures have fallen a little bit, you have air conditioning which is on all the time.

‘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.

‘Dayot Upamecano felt sick immediately after the match [against England]. It happens when you make such an effort, your body is weakened and you are more prone to be infected by these viruses.

‘We are taking all necessary precautions, we are trying to make sure it doesn’t spread but viruses are of course infectious and we have to take precautions against it. We separated him from others and Adrien as well.’

While all is going on, Argentina is concerned about Lionel Messi’s availability as he prepares to cap off his international career on Sunday.

Although Messi did not practice with the rest of the Argentina team on Thursday, the 35-year-old did participate in an indoor recovery session with the players who began Tuesday’s semifinal victory over Croatia, so there is no need for concern.

Prior to Sunday’s championship game, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has no known injuries, and his left hamstring is healthy, according to Argentine publication Clarin.