The France team is on a diet but the staff of the world champions remains alert.
In recent days, Franck Le Gall, 56 years old and doctor of the Blues since 2012, discussed with his counterpart from Everton about the health of Lucas Digne, injured in the ankle in training and who will no longer tread the grounds in 2020. “Even if the selection does not play again before March, we follow the pathologies of internationals, with access to exams and MRI, he crashes while his fourth book, Traumatology of football & Return to play has just been released. (Éditions Geoffroy), intended for sports practitioners.
The period is quieter, but we must remain very careful.
"
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With three gatherings between September and November for eight meetings in total, the selection has not been idle, forced to juggle the issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Between players worn out by the cadences of a hellish calendar, pressure from clubs, the pervasive shadow of the coronavirus and the management of positive tests, Franck Le Gall lived this sequence from the front row.
Not without some rigorous adjustments.
“It was complicated at the start because there were small hiccups (Steve Mandanda, tested positive in September and forced to leave the Blues, Editor's note), we had to get into the bath.
We had to adapt in September when the clubs were confronted with Covid from March-April.
At first, it was in everyone's head, the atmosphere was anxiety-provoking, but that feeling dissipated over the gatherings in October and November.
"On the multiplication of tests - three per week for the world champions before and after each meeting - Franck Le Gall did not foresee any major impact on the minds of the troops and possible psychological consequences since" it has become their daily life in a club ”.
"Didier's (Deschamps) priority is always the player's health"
Franck Le Gall
Precisely, a subject to arouse the debate between clubs and selections.
And on the reluctance of the latter to leave their elements available during the international break, in particular PSG with Kylian Mbappé.
On this point, the Blues doc does not see it as a major problem.
“It's fair game, but everything was done in good understanding and we do not mistreat the players in the France team.
The priority of Didier (Deschamps) is always the health of the player, he adjusts after seeing the 21-year-old striker recovering his health in the selection and getting his club back in shape.
No one has any interest in covering up an injury or withholding information.
It would be counterproductive and everything is known now.
"
What about the rest and in particular the vaccination campaign expected in the coming weeks?
For Franck Le Gall, there is no debate about professional athletes.
“If I'm at a club, I make sure that the players are vaccinated quickly with the caution that goes with it.
There will be enough for everyone.
"And continue:" It can be an example for the public to see footballers get vaccinated, there would be a reassuring side.
"Regarding Euro 2021 (June 11-July 11), the strong man of the medical sector of Didier Deschamps in the France team concludes:" The matches are linked, I do not see why the Euro would be canceled.
All players will be vaccinated.
As for the other details (location, public or not), that's another story.
"
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