Serious things begin.
If they worked on their physique at the hotel on Wednesday, the Blues discovered the Jassim-bin-Hamad stadium, the one where the Al-Sadd club usually plays.
High quality facilities.
Small 12,000-seat stadium, decked out in black and white, but an enclosure worthy of very good Ligue 1 clubs.
To discover
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In full, with the newcomer Randal Kolo Muani, the players of the French team entered the perfect lawn at 6:36 p.m. under the cheers of a few lucky ones from the French high school.
28 degrees on the thermometer, light wind: optimal conditions.
The work started with small races, bullfights, time also for the young supporters present in the stands.
Then “DD” and his staff engaged in exercises all over the field this time, but without Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema.
The two French convalescents did the rest of the session separately, working under the guidance of physical trainer Cyril Moine.
We will still have to wait to see them participate in an entire session and therefore breathe a little...
The Golden Ball, which is working to be operational from the first match against Australia, next Tuesday (8 p.m.), was also given a standing ovation by the stands where there was the 2018 world champion Steven Nzonzi, who plays in Qatar, but also the president of Paris Saint-Germain Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, in traditional dress, and that of the FFF, Noël Le Graët.
They talked for a long time.
Remember that the capital club has only one representative left in the France team, Kylian Mbappé, after Presnel Kimpembe's withdrawal.
For the rest, there will be a total of 11 Parisians in Qatar.
Konaté still on pole
Optimal conditions?
A little warm though.
Varane joked about it with Hugo Lloris when changing sides.
At each cool break, the Tricolores threw themselves on the water bottles… No air conditioning.
In any case, it was not connected.
New exercise, half-court conservation work with three teams.
Didier Deschamps on the job, haranguing his troops.
"
Loose
", "
accelerate
": the coach did not let go, setting the tempo and pushing his troops at every moment.
"DD" at the bottom of the hold!
His players, they stuck out their tongues, literally.
The climatic conditions were beginning to weigh on the organisms.
No need to push Kylian Mbappé, his fist furious at each goal scored.
And he often clenched his fist... Present at a press conference earlier in the day, like Aurélien Tchouameni, Olivier Giroud got off with a little scare.
More fear than harm.
To read alsoGiroud on the reception of the world champions in Qatar: "I did not know that the Indians supported the Blues"
After another welcome fresh break, opposition seven against seven on half-court, at the end of which we can notably remember that Ibrahima Konaté was once again playing alongside Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard.
New clue which suggests that the Liverpool player is favored by the staff to start on the left axis.
It remains to be seen whether the usual right axis holder, Raphaël Varane, will be operational when the time comes.
He was optimistic on Tuesday.
Suspense.
Note that this session apart, it was planned for Varane and Benzema, who ended up stretching.
We will know more during training on Friday.
This time it will be behind closed doors.
Thursday's ended, after 1h30 of effort, with a moment of communion between players and supporters.