France will probably be without Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano in its starting 11 against Morocco on Wednesday in its 2022 World Cup semifinal after each players contracted the flu in the sport’s leadup.
Ibrahima Konaté and Youssouf Fofana will start of their place, with Rabiot staying on the team’s base camp as a substitute of coming to the match.
“They’d played the opposite games, Didier [Deschamps] felt the balance was right with them,” assistant coach Guy Stéphan said, per beIN Sport. “Youssouf and Ibou are in a rather different register, but we’ve full faith in them.”
The French staff reportedly believes that the players picked up the flu from England’s players, per beIN Sport. It’s not known whether the players have been tested for COVID-19. French journalists were reportedly asked to wear masks within the mixed zone after the quarterfinal on the request of England.
Even without two regular starters, France still is available in as a heavy favorite against Morocco, which pulled off two straight upsets against Portugal and Spain to make it to the semifinals and is the primary African side to accomplish that.
The winner will face Argentina in Sunday’s final at 10 a.m. ET.