France star and captain Kylian Mbappe has missed training on the eve of the start of his side’s Euro 2024 campaign.
They have been left potentially left sweating over their star man, however, who sat out of an open training session, which hosted 4,000 fans, in Paderborn on Thursday, though it is understood he doesn’t have a serious issue.
The now-Real Madrid forward missed the session to manage his workload after ending his club season with PSG carrying an injury, with his side taking extra precaution.
He played just 15 minutes in France’s final Euros warm-up last week – a 0-0 draw with Canada – and his side hope he will be available for the Austria match.
France star and captain Kylian Mbappe missed his side’s open training session on Thursday
The forward missed out as precaution, but emerged towards the end to greet and pose with fans in Germany
Kingsley Coman also missed training due to an illness that is sweeping through France camp
Deschamps has spoken on the issue, saying after the Canada match: ‘Kylian received a blow during the last match on Wednesday and before the session, there was significant bruising on the knee.
‘He had treatment, he was much better today, but even if he wanted to play everything, there was no risk to take.’
The 25-year-old worked alone in the gym instead of joining team training, while 24 of the 26 players took part.
Kingsley Coman was the other man absent, with the forward dealing with illness in the build-up to the competition.
Mbappe did make his way out to the pitch at the end of the session to greet fans and pose for photos, though Coman did not.
Reports have suggested that the illness is a cause for concern, with several members of the squad struggling, including Deschamps himself, though no one else was struggling enough to sit out the session.
Ousmane Dembele spoke on the issue, having dealt with illness himself in recent days, but revealed he was feeling better. He said: ‘I had the flu last week and I was the first one but I feel a lot better now. The team is a lot better. Everyone will be okay in a couple of days.’
Manager Didier Deschamps (right) is among those in the group who has been hit by the virus
John Stones had been confined to his hotel room with an illness but has returned to training
England had also been hit by a sickness bug, with John Stones confined to his hotel room amid concerns of it spreading in the camp.
He only missed one training session, however, and was back with the team on Wednesday to ease any concerns over his absence from his side’s first group game.
England will kick off their campaign on Sunday against Serbia and are already missing first-choice centre back Harry Maguire through injury.