They can keep hope.
"The door remains open" for Raphaël Varane and Mike Maignan, launched in a race against time to return from muscle injuries a few days before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, assured the coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps to AFP Tuesday.
Before revealing his list for the World Cup in Qatar on November 9, the boss of the world champions recalled that he would not call a player "who is not able to play the start of the competition" , November 22 against Australia, while maintaining the hope of several convalescing players.
“The only one for whom the door is closed is N'Golo Kanté.
For the others, we will have to see the evolution of their injuries, ”he explained, questioned in Monaco.
Read alsoWorld Cup: are the Blues tempted to ease off in the face of the cascade of injuries?
Infirmary concerns pollute the atmosphere of the Blues before starting the defense of their planetary title at the World Cup (November 20-December 18).
The latest injuries to date, defender and vice-captain Raphaël Varane and goalkeeper Mike Maignan have fueled all concerns.
The Manchester United central defender came out injured and in tears on Saturday with Manchester United, hit in the thigh, even if his entourage was reassuring the next day after a “relatively positive” MRI.
The AC Milan goalkeeper has again injured his calf and his club believes that he will not be able to play again with the Rossoneri by the World Cup.
Deschamps has already lost his tireless midfielder N'Golo Kanté, operated on his hamstrings and unavailable for four months, and crosses his fingers that Paul Pogba, one of his privileged relays in the team, recovers in time from his serious injury in the right knee.
If he follows his recovery program on time, the midfielder of Juventus Turin is however likely to be on the trip to Doha, like Lucas Hernandez, another injured on the return with Bayern Munich.
PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe is also hoped for quickly.
Paul Pogba “in deficit” of playing time
"It's case by case," said Deschamps.
“For Paul (Pogba), that he has playing time before the competition, as much as possible, I say yes, because he is in deficit compared to the others.
For Raphaël (Varane), it is less problematic in this aspect, because it is a muscle injury, ”he argued.
“There are different stages.
The first, which is essential, is that the player be cured.
Afterwards, you have to assess the athletic condition, with the medical staff and the data you have.
And thirdly, there is competition for the position.
We cannot make generalizations.
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These words seem a little less categorical than in September, when "DD" had assured that any injured who had not fully recovered would stay at home, regardless of their status.
It remains to be seen whether Deschamps will be able to tick the names of Varane, Pogba and Maignan in his list of globalists, made public on November 9 by the broadcaster TF1, and transmitted to Fifa in its final version five days later.
