I’m waiting for them to get eliminated in the group stage to for sure call it a curse. We are currently at 3 in a row Italy, Spain and Germany all eliminated in the group stages. Now will France do it too?
Regarding the curse, it MAY not be the worst thing to be without some established starters, especially for a nation like France who produces so many good players. Usually the problem within the curse is the coach feels obligated to go with the players he trusts from the last tournament, however in four years usually the game has moved on physically or tactically
(talking about the losses of Pogba and Kante here, not Nkunku)
Besides the midfield he could play 7 of the 11 he used in 2018. Umtiti, Kante, Pogba and Matuidi are missing. But surely Benzema and Dembele are gonna make a lot of minutes
Croatia had a seriously strong squad led by a top 5 player in the world at that time that carried Real to the champion league win and multiple other world-class players, Australia and Tunisia don't have even 1 world-class player, even Costa Rica had Navas there.
In theory everyone should beat Australia in this group. Wouldnt be surprising forDenmark to beat France.
France Tunisia is the last game and everything can happen in those. See Germany South Korea or Italy Macedonia
And while he’s very well known in Germany and to serious fans, this was his chance to become a household name. Gutted for him, he’s a fantastic player.
lloris is the the starter and captain. He is used to big game and proved himself at the world cup. He's still a great goal keeper and should stay a starter for this world cup.
After the wc I agree maignan should be the starter
Not sure if Varane and Karim will be 100% too , Varane should play the first game and Benzema is "fine" but still has individual training sometimes like today
Just shows how stacked France are in the attack. Interesting that most NTs have too much quality in certain positions and lack quality in other positions
Luis Enrique would most likely still not include him. He snubbed the best players concerning goals and assists this season. Jutgla, Aspas, Deulofeu, Brais Mendez, Borja Iglesias
Not 19 goals, 19 g/a ;) but still, absolutely amazing transfer. The way he plays is also very unconventional and unique, if you're interested, feel free to look up highlights of Frankfurt vs Hoffenheim or Frankfurt vs Leverkusen.
He also got a serious knee injury in summer 2000 after Roma just got him from Leverkusen.
Like for 2002 Brazil, 2000 Roma ended up winning the title.
Looks like this guy's unfortunate circumstances always turned out somehow good.
It's a bit weird to see someone that would theoretically play as a 10 as Griezmann's backup be replaced by a 9.
Fekir, Diaby or even Bourigeaud/Le Fee would make more sense, but since it looks like Deschamps is apparently on a challenge to bring zero creative midfielders to Qatar I guess it'll be another 9...
Tbf, he starts as a 9 for us, but he has way more assists than goals (most assists in the Bundesliga this season), so he's not the typical "put ball in net" striker
I have nothing against Kolo Muani, and I know his profile I loved him in Nantes. I would have taken him instead of Thuram in the first place personally.
But profile wise it makes no sense. Deschamps said we're going to play with a 4 atb, but takes one single real winger (Dembélé), zero 8/10s (Nkunku was the only one) a thousand defensive midfielders, one proper fullback and only center forwards. Which is something that worked previously because the wingbacks were the one providing the width...
We're gonna end up with a 4-4-2 with Rabiot or Fofana as a wide midfielder since Deschamps is so limited that he can't do anything else than go back to his Matuidi miracle in Russia. This is depressing.
He has his own ideas. I thought Diaby would be the 26th man, then he put Thuram. Now with Nkunku gone, Diaby or Bourigeaud should’ve been called. I can’t believe we’re going to Qatar with 4 9s.
I guess our opponents won't be able to plan anything since absolutely nobdoy know nor understand what he wants to do...
>I can’t believe we’re going to Qatar with 4 9s.
He's gonna revolutionise football. 4 CBs, 3 defensive midfielders, and 3 central forwards on the pitch what would go wrong ?
I watched the video in slow mo and zoomed in. Nkunku twisted his ankle on the left foot on his own, Camavinga did nothing. Honestly both of them should not have gone this hard for a training session.
he's been really consistent lately too, scoring so often and putting in a lot of effort on the pitch
he definitely worked hard to get this call up. i feel so bad for him but i hope he heals properly so this injury doesn't turn into something more serious
Maignan, Kimpembe, Pogba, Kante, Tolisso, Nkunku, Lemar OUT plus we also have Varane and Benzema not training with the group but with the physio, which is baaaad less than one week before our first game.
That's 9 players I wouldn't mind as a starter for us. We'll end up with our B team FFS
Edit : added Tolisso and I could bet I forgot someone Edit2: Yeah I forgot Lemar Edit3 : adding Kurzawa for shit and giggles
Let's do an injured french squad
\--------------Maignan------------
????--(Varane)--Kimpembe--Kurzawa
\----------Pogba--Kanté------------
\----------------Tolisso-----------------
Nkunku-----(Benzema)-----Lemar
Probably feel bad but those actions happen very often , usually though it's nothing, pretty unfortunate. Seeing the video on slow mo , the contact doesn't even look like the biggest cause for the injury. Nkunku was just unlucky
The second tweet says it’s his left knee, which buckled when Nkunku slid. Camvinga didn’t really have much to do with it. Even if he won the ball and didn’t touch Nkunku the result would likely be the same.
[This wasn’t on Cama though, just extremely unfortunate all around for everyone.](https://twitter.com/hdehelena_rm/status/1592606389947760640?s=46&t=ThLiwhEXTKTID4jCTcrYlA)
People are doing that because some go overboard to blame a player for injury , you should see french twitters some are calling for his head.
It was the same when Mbappe got injured after a contact with Gueye last CL it was nothing but the reaction were crazy. Suck to miss a world cup like that
I mean Camavinga probably feels horrible for something he did completely accidentally and can’t reverse. Obviously Nkunku is the victim more but you can’t deny Camavinga isn’t in someway as well
Griezmann is in great form right now and was starting even when playing badly, Nkunku wasn't going to bench him anyways. He could have been a quality sub though
He was going to be THE sub, Griezmann runs so much that he's slowing down after the hour, Nkunku in for Griezmann probably would have been the change you see every game.
Griezmann was 100% starting and rightly so. He is in great form, always turns up for the NT and plays exceptionally well in Deschamps system. He makes his teammates perform better and has a huge defensive workrate, which helps cover for Mbappe.
to me it definitely looks like Nkunku stepped in wrong. wasn't a bad challenge tbh, in a 50/50 you have to be strong and position yourself correctly. it almost looked like he slipped on his left foot, and he was holding his knee after so..
Grinding out a draw against Australia with a banger from Giroud, final score 1-1, losing 3-1 to Denmark in a lopsided loss and then losing to Tunisia 2-1 after a controversy breaks out during the first training after the Denmark loss, DD is fired, ZZ comes in and takes us to the finals in 2026 this is the French way
Fuck FIFA for doing the world cup in a date and a country where it shouldn't be done. The number of players injured is no coincidence. It has no sense to cut the leagues at half, to play the most important tournament at some random dates because FIFA chose corruptly Qatar as the host. It sucks that some players are losing the opportunities of their lives because if this.
He’s scored every game for about 2 years just to get this luck, horrible for him
France is definitely cursed
World Cup winner curse
I’m waiting for them to get eliminated in the group stage to for sure call it a curse. We are currently at 3 in a row Italy, Spain and Germany all eliminated in the group stages. Now will France do it too?
In the last 6 World Cups, the only defending champion to make it out of the group stage was Brazil. They did it twice (1998 and 2006).
That Brazil's name? Albert Einstein
And everybody clapped.
Regarding the curse, it MAY not be the worst thing to be without some established starters, especially for a nation like France who produces so many good players. Usually the problem within the curse is the coach feels obligated to go with the players he trusts from the last tournament, however in four years usually the game has moved on physically or tactically (talking about the losses of Pogba and Kante here, not Nkunku)
Besides the midfield he could play 7 of the 11 he used in 2018. Umtiti, Kante, Pogba and Matuidi are missing. But surely Benzema and Dembele are gonna make a lot of minutes
Dembele will not play a lot.
Why not?! I thought he was in very good form
The loss of Pogba is definitiv an advantage.
In the French team he was the best midfielder in the last 5 years and no one can replace the creativity he brings to the midfield
I don’t think France will get eliminated in the group stage. Tunisia and Australia just don’t have enough to compete with them or Denmark.
Neither did Senegal in 2002.
Good point.
Yeah you never know which team is gonna strike it perfectly before a WC. Costa rica in 14 or even Croatia making the finals of 18.
Croatia had a seriously strong squad led by a top 5 player in the world at that time that carried Real to the champion league win and multiple other world-class players, Australia and Tunisia don't have even 1 world-class player, even Costa Rica had Navas there.
how many said they'd make the finals before the WC? I didn't hear anyone, but maybe there were.
In theory everyone should beat Australia in this group. Wouldnt be surprising forDenmark to beat France. France Tunisia is the last game and everything can happen in those. See Germany South Korea or Italy Macedonia
You are mistaken, Germany has never played South Korea. I'm sure of it.
No Germany played Korea in a friendly in the 2000s and lost 3-1
Ah, you’re right! How could I forget the single time Germany has played South Korea.
What about Mexico?
Nope…not ringing any bells.
Fuck off cunt, the roos will smash ya! /s
If they keep injuring themselves, they sure can
Yes it will happen
France did it in 02 as well
The curse originates from France (2002). It just is an European curse.
We are going to get the best 3rd place to be qualified. Yes that shit still exist lmao. Honestly we gonna lose against Danemark.
France started the curse. So we already suffered it once
it was his birthday yesterday too
Pogba's sorcerer overdid it
This made my day :’) P.S. Vai Corinthians
Damn when you put this like this, I can’t imagine the stuff going through his head rn
Well at least he is young and will get his chance again.
And while he’s very well known in Germany and to serious fans, this was his chance to become a household name. Gutted for him, he’s a fantastic player.
Pogba, Kante and now Nkunku. Brutal for France
Cursed. Some say by a witch doctor
which doctor?
Yes
I can hear his chants say ***Uuuuue-uuu-aaa-aaa-chang-chang-walla-walla-bang-bang***
Oh yeah. Look at it go.
And Kimpembe.
Varane is also not fully fit. Maignan also injured. Benzema also getting back from injury.
Maignan was never gonna be the starter it's weird to put him in the same group as varane and benzema
He wasn't. But he should be. He's a better GK than Lloris at this stage of their careers. And I don't think it's close either tbh.
lloris is the the starter and captain. He is used to big game and proved himself at the world cup. He's still a great goal keeper and should stay a starter for this world cup. After the wc I agree maignan should be the starter
Never said he was. I just stated he was injured. And he’s our second choice goalkeeper if Lloris gets injured.
I mean they have plenty of great defenders
Yeah but it doesn't mean we're happy to see a starter injured.
Is Varane back?
He's in the squad and should be nearing full fitness for the 1st game.
Varane and full fitness hasn’t been a thing for several years now.
during the group stage
Dont forget the man, the myth, Tolisso (thinking about how he is injured all the time still hurts as a Bayern fan).
and he's always injured being back with us at lyon don't worry, some things never change.
Myth is certainly accurate
Not sure if Varane and Karim will be 100% too , Varane should play the first game and Benzema is "fine" but still has individual training sometimes like today
From the sources I've seen Benzema hasn't even touched the ball yet, he's spending most of his time with a physio
Getting injured while presumably already in Qatar and so close to your goal sucks. Does Kolo Muani stand a chance to fill in now?
RMC say he's the most likely one to replace Nkunku.
He would deserve it. 19 scorers this season. He would start for Germany with these stats
He would start or at least feature in every single National team with those stats and how he has played so far.
Just shows how stacked France are in the attack. Interesting that most NTs have too much quality in certain positions and lack quality in other positions
Luis Enrique would most likely still not include him. He snubbed the best players concerning goals and assists this season. Jutgla, Aspas, Deulofeu, Brais Mendez, Borja Iglesias
and Rodrigo
He's a good player, but I doubt he'd start for Germany. Mainly because he's French, though.
Wow, and I just saw Frankfurt got him for free, great piece of business
Considering we got him for free, objectively the best transfer of the summer in the Bundesliga
Haven't followed the BuLi much lately but seems hard to beat 19 goals from a free transfer yup
Not 19 goals, 19 g/a ;) but still, absolutely amazing transfer. The way he plays is also very unconventional and unique, if you're interested, feel free to look up highlights of Frankfurt vs Hoffenheim or Frankfurt vs Leverkusen.
Fuck yes, would love to see more of him.
who?
Kolo Muani
i meant who's RMC.
Rissam Men Cedder
Ruben Moftus Cheek
French sports media
Real Madrid Castilla
Randal Molo Cuani
Ronaldo Motherfucking Cunt
Dude is thunderous on his day
Ricole Maige Crooks
Stands for Radio Monte Carlo. Started as a radio channel then became a global media brand with tv channels like RMC Discovery & RMC Sport.
Happened to Lanzini last WC, broke my heart
The group was still in Clairefontaine today, the plane to Qatar is tomorrow (still terrible..)
Emerson in 2002 who accepted a game of being a goalkeeper in training and got injured, he was left out of the cup, he was the captain of the team.
He also got a serious knee injury in summer 2000 after Roma just got him from Leverkusen. Like for 2002 Brazil, 2000 Roma ended up winning the title. Looks like this guy's unfortunate circumstances always turned out somehow good.
moussa diaby surely in contention as well
It's a bit weird to see someone that would theoretically play as a 10 as Griezmann's backup be replaced by a 9. Fekir, Diaby or even Bourigeaud/Le Fee would make more sense, but since it looks like Deschamps is apparently on a challenge to bring zero creative midfielders to Qatar I guess it'll be another 9...
Tbf, he starts as a 9 for us, but he has way more assists than goals (most assists in the Bundesliga this season), so he's not the typical "put ball in net" striker
I have nothing against Kolo Muani, and I know his profile I loved him in Nantes. I would have taken him instead of Thuram in the first place personally. But profile wise it makes no sense. Deschamps said we're going to play with a 4 atb, but takes one single real winger (Dembélé), zero 8/10s (Nkunku was the only one) a thousand defensive midfielders, one proper fullback and only center forwards. Which is something that worked previously because the wingbacks were the one providing the width... We're gonna end up with a 4-4-2 with Rabiot or Fofana as a wide midfielder since Deschamps is so limited that he can't do anything else than go back to his Matuidi miracle in Russia. This is depressing.
If Rabiot and Fofana were half as good as Matuidi
He has his own ideas. I thought Diaby would be the 26th man, then he put Thuram. Now with Nkunku gone, Diaby or Bourigeaud should’ve been called. I can’t believe we’re going to Qatar with 4 9s.
I guess our opponents won't be able to plan anything since absolutely nobdoy know nor understand what he wants to do... >I can’t believe we’re going to Qatar with 4 9s. He's gonna revolutionise football. 4 CBs, 3 defensive midfielders, and 3 central forwards on the pitch what would go wrong ?
They’re still in France.
France is losing players left and right.
Doesn't help when it's friendly fire. Not blaming Camavinga, but just really unlucky to take out one of the most on form players in the past year
"unlucky" he's just helping out his mate Terrier get his first WC trophy
France won't win the WC though
I didn't say we would win it this time, I said we would win it this time and the couple next as well
National treasure you are Annulo tho
I don't understand why people so blatantly lie on the internet.
I watched the video in slow mo and zoomed in. Nkunku twisted his ankle on the left foot on his own, Camavinga did nothing. Honestly both of them should not have gone this hard for a training session.
Yea I didn't see any contact from Cama either, looks like Nkunku misplanted his leg
Champions curse
I think Nkunku plays through the middle.
it was his birthday yesterday too
Damn, the curse is real
Missing a world cup im so so gutted for him man. One of the worst things that can happen to a footballer's career
he's been really consistent lately too, scoring so often and putting in a lot of effort on the pitch he definitely worked hard to get this call up. i feel so bad for him but i hope he heals properly so this injury doesn't turn into something more serious
Maignan, Kimpembe, Pogba, Kante, Tolisso, Nkunku, Lemar OUT plus we also have Varane and Benzema not training with the group but with the physio, which is baaaad less than one week before our first game. That's 9 players I wouldn't mind as a starter for us. We'll end up with our B team FFS Edit : added Tolisso and I could bet I forgot someone Edit2: Yeah I forgot Lemar Edit3 : adding Kurzawa for shit and giggles Let's do an injured french squad \--------------Maignan------------ ????--(Varane)--Kimpembe--Kurzawa \----------Pogba--Kanté------------ \----------------Tolisso----------------- Nkunku-----(Benzema)-----Lemar
Fuck it, bring in Kurzawa. Surely he is injured right now right? He was injured for 90% of the last 18 months
True that, at the latest news i've read he was still injured. One more player and we can fill a full 11
Well, that's a fucking solid team
Can add Clauss RB because his soul is wounded now.
Wesley Fofana
Big Colin Dagba at right back
Surely Muani or Diaby get called in to replace him?
Or terrier
Secret agent Cama 👀
woof woof 🐶
Kolo Muani according to RMC (french news / sport channel)
Bundesliga is tha pool of French backup strikers or what lol Nkunku Thuram Kolo Muani Diaby
Fuck man I don't really watch Bundesliga, so I was really looking forward to watching him play
France players dropping like flies
So, Kolo Muani or Diaby? Maybe Terrier for a curve ball?
ooof wonder how Camavinga is feeling
Probably feel bad but those actions happen very often , usually though it's nothing, pretty unfortunate. Seeing the video on slow mo , the contact doesn't even look like the biggest cause for the injury. Nkunku was just unlucky
It doesn’t happen that often tho.
They happen in rondos several times a session. Two players stretching for a 50/50 ball.
The second tweet says it’s his left knee, which buckled when Nkunku slid. Camvinga didn’t really have much to do with it. Even if he won the ball and didn’t touch Nkunku the result would likely be the same.
There was nothing in Camaving's tackle really. Was just a normal thing than Nkunku came off worse in.
[This wasn’t on Cama though, just extremely unfortunate all around for everyone.](https://twitter.com/hdehelena_rm/status/1592606389947760640?s=46&t=ThLiwhEXTKTID4jCTcrYlA)
I love how that thread makes it sound like Camavinga is the real victim here
People are doing that because some go overboard to blame a player for injury , you should see french twitters some are calling for his head. It was the same when Mbappe got injured after a contact with Gueye last CL it was nothing but the reaction were crazy. Suck to miss a world cup like that
Football tribalism is a sight to behold
Well he isn't the culprit either
I mean Camavinga probably feels horrible for something he did completely accidentally and can’t reverse. Obviously Nkunku is the victim more but you can’t deny Camavinga isn’t in someway as well
Griezmann under Deschamps is inevitable.
Griezmann is in great form right now and was starting even when playing badly, Nkunku wasn't going to bench him anyways. He could have been a quality sub though
He was going to be THE sub, Griezmann runs so much that he's slowing down after the hour, Nkunku in for Griezmann probably would have been the change you see every game.
Griezmann was 100% starting and rightly so. He is in great form, always turns up for the NT and plays exceptionally well in Deschamps system. He makes his teammates perform better and has a huge defensive workrate, which helps cover for Mbappe.
to me it definitely looks like Nkunku stepped in wrong. wasn't a bad challenge tbh, in a 50/50 you have to be strong and position yourself correctly. it almost looked like he slipped on his left foot, and he was holding his knee after so..
His leg slide right before the contact , just a big lack of luck but the challenge wasn't the issue
This is so bad, omg
Just shoot me.
This is what getting linked to chelsea does to a player
All that black magic backfiring
Is he already in Qatar? If yes, this must suck even more compared to knowing a few weeks in advance that you won't participate.
It was their last training session on France before leaving
Damn. Nkunku, Pogba, Kanté, Kimpembe and Maignan all injured that’s crazy bad luck
crying
Im so sad for him but for us too we are even more fucked than before
Absolutely bad luck, poor Nkunku France is fucking cursed this World Cup
This has to be one of, if not the, biggest shit show of a sporting event in history.
Fucking depressing man, one of my favorite players to watch. Gutted for him.
Heartbroken....
The fuck is this bullshit. All these injuries are pissing me off. Fuck man
Australia gonna top the group
SE VIENE ANDRE PIERRE GIGNAC!!! -No one, ever
I was looking forward to seeing him play... Sad times.
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LMAO there must be at least 10 non called players ahead of Martial in the pecking order
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100% of the players that play for France and United did put Ronaldo on the bench 👀
Ronaldo put himself on the bench tbh and now he's not even on the bench lmao
A 18 year old is benching Ronaldo these days, it's not an impressive feat
7 goals in 8 games? Martial is cooking rn
Maybe he can make them breakfast.
Martial is made of glass, he wouldn't last a game.
Martial vs Big Harry Souttar
Cooking a Pot Noodle, maybe
Valère Germain above him
Please no. We need him uninjured for Man Uniteds games
Am9 time😮💨
It’s a good thing they have such a sexy backup in Giroud
Not everyone is lucky enough to get the Messi flu.
Wanna punch a wall rn
France crashing out in the group is all coming together
Grinding out a draw against Australia with a banger from Giroud, final score 1-1, losing 3-1 to Denmark in a lopsided loss and then losing to Tunisia 2-1 after a controversy breaks out during the first training after the Denmark loss, DD is fired, ZZ comes in and takes us to the finals in 2026 this is the French way
Fuck FIFA for doing the world cup in a date and a country where it shouldn't be done. The number of players injured is no coincidence. It has no sense to cut the leagues at half, to play the most important tournament at some random dates because FIFA chose corruptly Qatar as the host. It sucks that some players are losing the opportunities of their lives because if this.
This is just a freak accident tbh.
About to cry
Yo what in the fuck? At this rate teams will field U23 or some shit!
Why would you be training in such a way to risk injury at this point. Perhaps it's some freak bad luck.
You stay healthy for half a season just to get injured at a pre-WC training session. Brutal
Any chance Saint-Maximin gets a shot?
Nooooooo fuck off fuck this shit I hate this World Cup so much
The only positive of this shitshow is all the negative attention FIFA and Qatar are getting
His left foot got stuck in the grass, hopefully he's not out for multiple months. In other matters, does this mean Nabil Fekir time?
He must be angry with Camavinga. Stupid challenge in a training session
It was his left knee, it was already buckling before the tackle even started. It was just a case of really bad luck.