Europe 1 with AFP 8:30 p.m., October 23, 2022
A month before its first match at the World Cup against Australia (November 22), the France team is crossing its fingers for its vice-captain Raphaël Varane, who was injured and in tears on Saturday.
The central defender of the Blues would be unavailable for three weeks according to the latest analyzes, enough to hope to see him at the World Cup.
The right thigh injury suffered by Raphaël Varane on Saturday with Manchester United is "less serious than feared", a source close to the Blues defender told AFP on Sunday, his unavailability being estimated at between three and four weeks according to the press. .
The exit of the 29-year-old central defender, in tears, on Saturday against Chelsea caused great concern on the side of the France team, of which Varane is a manager (87 caps), one month before the first match of the World Cup , November 22 against Australia.
The MRI performed on Sunday, however, proved to be "relatively positive", according to the source interviewed by AFP.
She confirmed a hamstring injury (back of the thigh) but "less serious than feared", which allows "to keep hope" for the World Cup in Qatar.
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Three to four weeks of absence
The duration of unavailability of Varane, not spared by injuries during his career, is estimated between three and four weeks, assure Sunday several specialized media in France.
Coach Didier Deschamps must announce his list on November 9 on TF1.
This type of physical glitch is not unheard of for the former Real Madrid manager, forced to forfeit at Euro 2016 because of a left thigh injury.
He also missed a month and a half and nine games for his club from early November to late December last season.
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Deschamps adamant
Enough to be called?
So far, Didier Deschamps, the coach of the France team, has been adamant that any injured who have not fully recovered will stay at home, regardless of their status.
"I will not leave with a player, whoever he is, who cannot be physically fit for the first match", he announced in mid-September, as was the case "with executives like Varane before the Euro" six years ago.
"On that, I will not have any development," he insisted.
A package from the Mancunian, captain in September in the absence of Hugo Lloris, would create a big void in the tricolor locker room, as his influence has grown in recent months.