Didier Deschamps has warned the France squad that he will not take any injured players to the 2022 World Cup. Les Blues face being without Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane in Qatar.
The 2018 champions have seen their plans for this winter’s tournament be thrown out the window after an array of injuries. N’Golo Kante of Chelsea will miss the 22nd edition of the FIFA tournament after the midfielder recently underwent surgery on a hamstring problem.
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Pogba is yet to feature this season since the midfielder re-signed for Juventus after leaving Manchester United in June, meanwhile. The 29-year-old suffered a meniscus injury back in July and only recently re-joined team training. But Juventus will not rush him back to play.
Manchester United have also announced Varane is facing a spell on the sidelines after the centre-back sustained an injury against Chelsea. Erik ten Hag has ruled the 29-year-old out of all of the Red Devils’ games before the World Cup and is unsure of him playing in Qatar.
Deschamps gives France’s injured stars like Pogba and Varane a World Cup warning
It could be touch-and-go for Pogba and Varane to overcome their injuries and be fit ahead of France travelling to Qatar for the World Cup. But the pair proving their fitness ahead of the tournament beginning may be the only way Deschamps agrees to take them with him.
“There are important stages,” he told Brut, via quotes by GFFN. “One is that the player has recovered. That’s a condition. Without that, there isn’t even a question to be asked.
“The second thing is to evaluate their athletic condition. But this second condition can only exist if the first one is guaranteed.
“Everything depends on how long they will have been out for, the number of matches they will have played between their injury and when they join up with us. And a third aspect, which is the competition in that position.”
Deschamps added that he will categorically refuse to take an injured player to Qatar if they will miss France’s opening Group D tie with Australia. Les Bleus begin their title defence on November 22 in Al-Wakrah, before meeting Denmark on the 26th and Tunisia on the 30th.
“No, that’s clear and concise. I’ve said it before, I’ve never gone to a major competition with an injured player. Going to a major competition with players who aren’t fit takes up too much attention. And for those who do play, it takes up the medical staff’s time,” he added.
Kamara and Digne could hand Deschamps a timely boost at Aston Villa
Varane will hope he has stored up enough credit with Deschamps to make France’s World Cup side despite the defender’s injury keeping him out of Manchester United’s games. The Bleus boss has now landed a timely boost with Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne, though.
Aston Villa midfielder Kamara may yet go to the Middle East with the 22-year-old ahead of schedule in his recovery. The Athletic reports the Marseille native is showing encouraging signs as he rehabilitates from knee ligament damage. He was likely to miss the World Cup.
Kamara’s Aston Villa teammate Digne, meanwhile, is in line to make his return as early as this weekend. L’Equipe reports the left-back is now in a condition to feature after suffering a stress fracture in his right ankle. It had cast doubts over his chances of featuring in Qatar.
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