Kylian Mbappe was a high-profile absentee from France training just four days out from their World Cup quarter-final showdown with England.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar did not take part in Didier Deschamps’ latest session at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday evening, with Les Bleus confirming that he was instead training indoors in the gym on an exercise bike as part of a “recovery session”.
The French Football Federation (FFF) have since confirmed that was always part of the plan for Mbappe in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-1 last-16 victory over Poland, in which he stole the show from record-breaker Olivier Giroud with two excellent goals to become the leader in the Golden Boot race with five in three starts.
“Kylian Mbappe is working in the recovery room, it is usual two days after a game,” read an FFF statement.
French fans will be mightily relieved to learn that there is no injury for their talisman, who is expected to be fully fit to face old rivals England at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday evening.
A few other France players, such as Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, only took some part in the training session on Tuesday evening. Others did some light stretching on the side of the pitch.
Holders France have reached the last eight of the World Cup despite persistent injury strife, with Deschamps missing the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Christopher Nkunku, Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez, who suffered an ACL injury during the group stage.
