Arrived Tuesday, November 16, in Doha, the reigning world champions have taken up residence at the Al Messila Resort, a 5-star establishment which will serve as their base camp throughout the competition.
They trained for the first time this Thursday, November 17, at Jassim-bin-Hamad Stadium.
We tell you about this first day on Qatari soil.
The fact of the day
The images of Nkunku on the ground Tuesday evening during the last exercise of the last day of preparation at Clairefontaine are still in everyone's mind.
Fortunately, the Leipzig striker's package did not have an equivalent this Thursday in Doha.
The Blues got to know the impeccable lawn of the Jassim-bin-Hamad stadium, normally host to the Al-Saad club.
To encourage them, about 300 children and parents draped in blue white red colors were invited, including some from the French high school Bonaparte.
Nasser al-Khelaïfi, Noël Le Graët and Steven Nzonzi, who now plays in Qatar, were also at the party.
©PHOTOPQR/LE PARISIEN/Le Parisien / Arnaud Journois;
DOHA;
17/11/2022;
FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 / DOHA, JASSIM BIN HAMAD STADIUM, TRAINING OF THE FRANCE TEAM / NOEL LE GRAET PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION (FFF), NASSER AL KHELAIFI PRESIDENT OF PSGPHOTO LE PARISIEN / ARNAUD JOURNOIS * **Local Caption***
Benzema and Varane only participated in fifteen minutes of this collective session.
After warming up, they continued their training separately with physical trainer Cyril Moine.
They repeated the exercises for taking support, changing direction or accelerating.
Enough to maintain doubts about their state of form five days before the match against Australia.
Read alsoBenzema against Australia, optimism in the air
Among the good news, note the return of Aurélien Tchouaméni, who had shortened his session on Tuesday.
The Blues first carried out several passing exercises before moving on to several high-intensity oppositions.
An hour later, Didier Deschamps put an end to these small matches.
PHOTO LE PARISIAN / ARNAUD JOURNOIS
The program of the day
This Friday, rebelote.
Two players will appear at a press conference, this time at noon (10 a.m. in France).
Training will again take place in the late afternoon.
On the other hand, from Saturday until Monday, the Blues will train later.
The session will start at 9 p.m. in order to adapt as much as possible to the time of the first match on Tuesday evening against Australia (10 p.m. local time, 8 p.m. in France).
The new one: Randal Kolo Muani
Called at the last minute to make up for the loss of Christopher Nkunku injured in his knee, Randal Kolo Muani arrived this Thursday morning, at 5:30 a.m. (local time, 7:30 a.m. French time), from Japan where he was training with his club of Eintracht Frankfurt.
The former Nantes player was able to find his teammates who had arrived the day before, in Doha, and participated in the training session normally.
The declaration: "I have to gain regularity, there is no problem with that"
Aurélien Tchouaméni appeared at a press conference in the middle of the afternoon after Olivier Giroud.
Always the same ease emerges from the Real Madrid midfielder when he appears in front of the press.
A somewhat feigned serenity at the approach of such an event?
Not at all, he hammered.
Even if, in the absence of Pogba and Kanté, he is essential in the midfield?
Nothing to disturb him.
“Boss or no boss doesn't mean anything.
The most important thing is the ground, he says.
Pressure, we know it from a very young age.
This position, frankly, I approach it with great enthusiasm and envy.
There is no additional pressure (…) Me from the beginning, I felt serene.
When you arrive on the field with fear in your stomach, that's when you can do anything.
My luck too, is that everyone welcomed me well”.
PHOTO LE PARISIEN / ARNAUD JOURNOIS Arnaud Journois
The French still assumed his lackluster performance in June, then against Denmark at the end of September (2-0).
“We mainly talk about the League of Nations in June where I had not necessarily performed well in the same way as the team.
After that, I'm not looking for excuses.
In September, there was a good match against Austria, it was less good against Denmark.
I have to gain consistency, there is no problem with that”.
Note that the former Monegasque also wanted to pay tribute before the Q&A game to referee Johan Hamel, who died tragically earlier this week.
The number of the day: 27
It was 27 degrees Celsius during that first workout.
Much more pleasant conditions than those we experienced at lunchtime, when the air was both hot and arid.
“The conditions, I expected worse, commented Tchouaméni.
I was pleasantly surprised.
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