Barcelona defense star reassures France: "I'm fine"

French international defender Jules Conde confirmed that the injury he sustained in his thigh and forced him to leave the match that his team Barcelona won 1-0 against Valencia yesterday in the Spanish Football League is not strong, nearly three weeks before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

The 23-year-old said he had suffered from "stress" rather than an injury, after being substituted at Mestalla a quarter of an hour before the end of the match.

"I'm fine, it doesn't look strong, it was just stress. We're in a crazy fashion, we play a lot of matches, every three days, but we have to take care of ourselves," he said in an interview with the streaming platform Dawn.

"I think we're playing a lot of games, but we're not responsible for that," he added.

Barcelona coach Xavi said Conde will undergo tests, but at first glance "it looks like a nuisance".

France, the 2018 world champion, suffers from injuries before the start of the campaign to defend her title.

Chelsea's English player, N'Golo Conte, one of the most prominent players who contributed to the crown four years ago, will miss the finals with a hamstring injury, while his teammate in the midfield Paul Pogba, Juventus's Italian, is recovering from a knee injury.

Manchester United central defender Raphael Varane has a hamstring injury and Dutch coach Eric Ten Hag has said he will not play before the World Cup, while goalkeepers Mike Minyan and Steve Mandanda are both injured.

The first is not expected to be called up to the finals.

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia suffered a thigh injury during the match, while Valencia's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani had an ankle problem.

Spanish striker Alvaro Morata was substituted during the Atletico Madrid match in Cadiz in the tenth minute after he was run over on his foot and could not continue.

The World Cup kicks off on November 20, and France plays its first match on the 22nd against Australia.

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