FRANCE manager Didier Deschamps has warned he will not take injured players to the World Cup.
The holders face Denmark, Australia and Tunisia in Group D in Qatar.
But they could be without two star players in Paul Pogba and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane.
Varane left the pitch in tears against Chelsea on Saturday and is expected to miss the rest of United’s games before the World Cup.
It is touch and go whether he will feature in Qatar with Deschamps firmly against including injured players in his squad.
The France boss said: “It’s clear and clean. That I said. I’ve never embarked with an injured player for a big competition
“The only thing that is certain is that I will not take a player who is not able to play at the start of the competition. Then itâs on a case-by-case basis.
“But leaving on a big competition with players who are not suitable, already it occupies too much attention, and for those who have to play, it also monopolizes the medical staff.
“Me, I consider that we must leave with valid and capable players.”
Deschamps also spoke specifically about Pogba and Varane and outlined what they have to do to prove their fitness.
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He added: “For Paul (Pogba), that he has playing time before the competition, as much as possible, I say yes, because he is in deficit compared to the others.
“For Raphaël (Varane), it is less problematic in this aspect, because it is a muscle injury.”
France are not the only team with injury concerns – Gareth Southgate could be missing right-backs Kyle Walker and Reece James with the duo both major injury doubts.
Les Blues will also be without N’Golo Kante who was pivotal to their 2018 success in Russia.
Argentina’s Paulo Dybala and Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota are also set to miss out along with a host of other stars.
