Before the Austria game

Virus partially paralyzes France team

There's a virus going around the French national team.(Bild: AFP)

Four days before France's opening game at the European Championship in Düsseldorf against Austria, the title contenders are worried about health setbacks.

According to French media reports, team boss Didier Deschamps, defender Ibrahima Konate, attacker Kingsley Coman and several other team members are affected by an inflammation of the nose and throat. In addition, superstar Kylian Mbappe, who has been struggling with slight knee problems recently, did not train fully on Thursday.

Mbappe only signs autographs
Mbappe only appeared towards the end of the public training session in front of 4,000 spectators in Paderborn to sign autographs. Before that, the France captain worked inside the stadium. The 25-year-old had been rested for the European Championship dress rehearsal against Canada (0:0) due to knee problems. It was the sixth international match in a row that the French have failed to win without Mbappe in the starting line-up, including a 1-1 draw against Austria in the Nations League in Vienna in June 2022.

Kylian Mbappe(Bild: AFP)

Mbappe should be able to play in the rematch in Düsseldorf - unlike Aurelien Tchouameni. David Alaba's Real Madrid team-mate has not played a game since suffering a foot injury at the beginning of May. In his place, veteran N'Golo Kante, who now plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, could start in central midfield. Like the slightly ill Konate, Tchouameni completed an individual program after the warm-up on Thursday.

Kingsley Coman(Bild: AFP)

According to "L'Équipe", Deschamps felt weakened on Wednesday after returning from training at the team camp in Bad Lippspringe. The TV station RMC reported that some of the French European Championship participants woke up on Thursday with the feeling that they had a cold. Some also had cramps or headaches.

Coman has been hit hard
FC Bayern's Coman is said to have been the worst hit, staying in his room for at least the whole of Thursday morning. However, nothing should currently stand in the way of him playing against Austria on Monday. According to media reports, the slight viral infections are not yet a major concern for those responsible.

Ousmane Dembele(Bild: AFP)

"From my point of view, things are going much better, I had the flu on Tuesday. I had a bit of a fever and maybe got it going," said attacking player Ousmane Dembele in a press conference: "But it's better now, the whole team is better - apart from Coman, who is a bit more ill."