World Cup holders France are in final preparations before clashing with high-flying Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after dodging the traditional tournament curse of reigning champions while showing why they were rightly billed as one of the key favorites this winter, but Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps looks set to be stripped of two key assets in his preferred XI tomorrow night.
As reported by French outlet L’Équipe (relayed by Get French Football News), centerback Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot are both set to miss out on proceedings against Walid Regragui’s Ousud Al-atlas at Al Bayt Stadium.
Both Upamecano and Rabiot missed training today while the Bayern Munich defender also was absent yesterday as the French pair are both battling illness - said to be a cold - and remained isolated from the rest of the squad while still being put through their paces in the gym.
L’Équipe has stated that all other members are fit and available including Aurélien Tchouaméni after a knock kept him out of training yesterday.
Should neither be available, it is expected that Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté will come in to replace his former RB Leipzig teammate, while AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana would slot into Deschamps’ XI in Rabiot’s stead.
Though both Upamecano and Rabiot have no doubt featured prominently during tournament play up to this stage, the wealth of talent that Deschamps has at his disposal means that - at least on paper (though meaningless) - France should be able to cope with their potential absences on appropriately.
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