FRANCE team staff members are allegedly blaming England for Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano catching flu.
The defending champions beat Gareth Southgate’s side 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday night.
Since then, midfielder Rabiot and centre-back Upamecano have come down with an illness.
Rabiot is not in the squad for their semi-final clash with Morocco on Wednesday evening.
Upamecano is feeling slightly better, but has only made the bench.
Youssouf Fofana and Ibrahima Konate have replaced them in the starting line-up.
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There is no evidence that the sickness was caused by England’s players.
Yet beIN Sports are reporting that members of the French staff believe it has come from the Three Lions stars.
It is not known whether the two French players have contracted Covid as there is no requirement to test them during the tournament.
La Provence reported after Saturday night’s game that media were required to wear masks in the mixed zone at the request of the England camp.
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Meanwhile French newspaper L’Equipe reported that the air-con at the team’s base in Qatar, the Al Messila Resort and Spa in Doha, has contributed to Rabiot and Upamecano’s illness.
France are looking to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
If they beat Morocco on Wednesday then they will set up a clash with Argentina on Sunday.
It is not yet known whether Rabiot or Upamecano will be well enough to feature in the final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
