Adrien Rabiot will miss France’s World Cup semi-final clash with Morocco after coming down with an illness from the result of air conditioning.
The Juventus midfielder has been a key component of the French team which is now two games away from becoming the first nation to reclaim the trophy in 60 years. Rabiot has started all-but one game in Qatar and has played an influential role in the heart of their midfield.
But the 27-year-old will not even be at Al Bayt Stadium for the meeting with surprise package Morocco, instead remaining at the team hotel with an illness. L’Equipe report that both Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano have the flu, with the blame being placed on air conditioning at their training base.
Upamecano has recovered sufficiently to take a place on the bench, but Rabiot is out of the squad altogether, with Youssouf Fofana replacing him in midfield. That’s one of two changes, with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate replacing the stricken Upamecano.
France take on the Atlas Lions fresh off beating England at the same stadium on Saturday night. And Rabiot risked the wrath of Three Lions supporters when claiming Harry Kane ’s second penalty miss was a case of justice being served.
Kane had already fired one penalty past Hugo Lloris when he was given a late chance to restore parity from the spot for the second time. However, with the chance to break England’s goalscoring record, the Tottenham striker fired over.
That penalty was awarded following a clumsy challenge by Theo Hernandez on Mason Mount. Referee Wilton Sampaio initially waved away protests before a check on the pitchside monitor left him with no choice.
But Rabiot insisted his side were harshly treated and that the miss was the right result: "First of all, I'm not sure that it's really a foul. We've seen hundreds of actions like that that aren't given," the French midfielder declared post-match.
"I thought the refereeing was a bit borderline at times tonight, but we won't linger on that. Of course, when he missed, we were happy, it was justice because there was no penalty.
“But sometimes you also need that bit of luck, of success. We had it tonight, everything came together. We are really proud to reach the semi-final in this way."
Rabiot will still be expected to have a chance of helping deliver France their historic third World Cup with Didier Deschamps’ side strong favourites to reach the final. However, standing in their way, Morocco have already proven to be the scourge of Europe’s elite, beating Belgium and Portugal and knocking Spain out on penalties.
Whoever is victorious on Wednesday night will face an Argentina side inspired by Lionel Messi, who destroyed Croatia 3-0 to book their place in Sunday’s final.
