Two days before the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, at least five players, including Raphael Varane (Manchester United), of the French national soccer team were found to have shown symptoms of a cold.
According to AP and AFP, Baran and Ibraima Konate (Liverpool) did not attend team training two days before the game due to cold symptoms.
Previously, Dayo Upamecano, Kingsle Coman (Bayern Munich), and Adrien Rabiot (Juventus) also complained of the same symptoms a few days ago and had to be isolated from the squad.
Among them, Upamecano and Rabiot returned to team training, but Comang was not seen, the Associated Press reported, citing French sports newspaper L'Equipe.
He also added that Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) and Aurelien Chuameni (Real Madrid) also did not show up at the training ground, the reasons for their absence being unknown.
It was also not confirmed which virus the players were infected with.
Fox News of the United States, citing employees of the French national team, reported that Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) appears to be the cause, and public broadcaster France 24 raised the possibility of infection with Corona 19 based on sore throat.
Reporter Romain Uex France24 said, "(Not only the players) French reporters are not in a good condition. I have been feeling unwell, such as coughing for a week," and "My hypothesis is that the players are infected with Corona 19."
At the same time, he said, "There is a possibility that he may have been infected with MERS, which is called 'camel flu'" and "bad news ahead of the final"
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) told the Associated Press, "Viruses are not scary. Upamecano and Rabiot suffered from headaches and slight stomachaches."
Randall Colomuani (Frankfurt) said, "Sick people stay in their rooms. Team medical staff are taking good care of them."
France and Argentina will play the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar tomorrow (18th) at 12:00 pm Korean time.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)