Published: June 24, 2021 9:47 pm
Last Updated: June 24, 2021 11:02 pm
Rabiot a doubt for France
Adrien Rabiot has featured in all three of France’s fixtures to date at the 2020 European Championships. The Juventus man was trusted in central midfield in ties against Germany and Hungary, before being dropped to the bench against Portugal.
An injury to reserve left-back Lucas Digne, however, meant that Rabiot was substituted on after just 52 minutes, playing a large part of the game in a left full-back berth.
More injury woes for France – Adrien Rabiot is managing an ankle problem – the medical staff believe he can play through it for the rest of the tournament, the player is worried that if he does he may suffer the same post-tournament fate as Samuel Umtiti. https://t.co/ldnTsQXOE3
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) June 24, 2021
However, a report from Get French Football News, citing French publication L’Equipe, suggests that Rabiot may not play any further part in the tournament.
This is due to a recurring ankle injury, which has flared up in the last few days. The result was that Rabiot trained apart from France’s main group on Thursday, undergoing a lighter session than his teammates.
Indeed, there is something of a tug-of-war ongoing between the midfielder and the medical staff in the French camp; the latter believe that he will be fine to play through the tournament without any issues.
Rabiot, on the other hand, is wary of the fate of countryman Samuel Umtiti, who was told the same thing, and has since struggled perpetually with injury, losing his place in the Barcelona side as a result.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 04: Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona during the pre match warm up prior the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal at Nou Camp on August 04, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
“Crisis” in the French camp
France had already lost Ousmane Dembele to injury against Hungary, with the Barcelona winger subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
Crisis striking the French camp – after Ousmane Dembélé injury last week, Lucas Digne & Lucas Hernandez major problems last night, Marcus Thuram & Thomas Lemar both suffer problems of considerable seriousness in training today.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) June 24, 2021
Lucas Digne is likely to join him on the sidelines for the entirety of the competition, whilst Lucas Hernandez was removed at half-time on Wednesday with a supposed knock.
To make matters worse, GFFN report that wingers Thomas Lemar and Marcus Thuram have suffered injuries in training, although there has as of yet been no official confirmation.
Should this prove the case, however, and Rabiot be unable to play a further part either, Didier Deschamps would find himself down to a 20-man squad, three of which come in the form of goalkeepers.
While France have the strongest starting XI in the tournament, behind the scenes they are hitting the bare bones of their squad.
Read more:
Aaron Ramsey set for Juventus departure along with Adrien Rabiot after The Old Lady decides on summer exits
Lucas Digne could be out for ‘the rest of Euro 2020’ with ‘big doubts over Lucas Hernandez too
This article was edited by
Conor Laird.
