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Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot will not be starting for France for the crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup clash against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, December 14. Fans on Twitter were concerned about Didier Deschamps' team due to the duo's absence.
They have been crucial for Les Bleus during the tournament in Qatar. French outlet L'Equipe reported that both players missed training before the game due to illness.
Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana have come in as replacements for the game against Morocco.
Fans, however, expressed their concern on social media as they opined that Kylian Mbappe and co. are going to miss the duo big time against Walid Regragui's side. Some even went a step further to claim Morocco are now at an advantage.
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Here are some of the best reactions to the defender and midfielder not featuring in France's lineup against the Atlas Lions in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals:
France FIFA World Cup stars Jules Kounde and Raphel Varane laud Didier Deschamps for his coaching style
Didier Deschamps is aiming to help France become the first team since 1962 to win consecutive FIFA World Cups. Been at the helm since 2012, Deschamps is known to motivate his players like no other.
Defender Jules Kounde praised the France coach's man-management skills as he recently said (via FIFA's official website):
“Generally speaking, I think he's a coach who does everything to make the players feel comfortable. As for his approach, he's clear about what he expects from each player. This allows the players to feel involved, whether we play a lot or a little. We especially have a clear idea of what the coach expects from us so I think this is one of his strengths.”
Manchester United's Raphael Varane echoed Kounde's statement as he said:
“For me, Didier's best coaching quality is his ability to form a group, to use everyone's qualities for a collective goal. Also, to put the team above all else and use their qualities towards the collective goal."
Deschamps, meanwhile, shared his take on Morocco as opponents ahead of the highly-anticipated semi-final showdown. He said:
"They’re a team that have defended pretty well, but they aren't only defensive, otherwise they wouldn't have reached the semi-finals, They also have some offensive tools, but [with] a defensive base, which is well-organised and very rational.
"With that they have skill because of attacking players like [Youssef] En-Nesyri, [Hakim] Ziyech or [Sofiane] Boufal, who can create problems for their opponents. They master their craft, just like any other big team that are in the semi-finals. They have the skill to defend very well, for sure. They defend properly."
The winner of today's semi-final clash will face Argentina in the final on Sunday, while the loser will face Croatia in the third-place playoff a day earlier.
