France head coach Didier Deschamps has downplayed the severity of N’Golo Kante’s injury. The midfielder picked up a problem while warming up for a Euro 2020 Qualifier game against Iceland last Friday.
The Chelsea star, who has been dealing with various injuries this season, was listed in the France starting XI against Iceland in Reykjavik. As he was warming up with the team, Kante inadvertently hurt himself and was seen limping off the field. He was immediately replaced by Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko.
Chelsea boss,Frank Lampard had then called up Deschamps and requested him not to include Kante on his list given his injury record. However, the France boss and former Chelsea player downplayed the latest setback and believes that it is not serious.
‘He felt a pain in the adductor [groin] muscle,’ said the France handler right after the game. ‘He had a feeling where he did not feel comfortable to play.
‘I made the decision [to pull him from the squad], because maybe it could get even worse. I knew Moussa would be ready.’
Olivier Giroud saved France after he converted a penalty. Kante’s absence, as well as Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba, was felt as France seemed to struggle throughout the game.
France currently sits on the second place in the Group H of this competition. They are six points ahead of Iceland who are in the third place. Turkey also defeated Albania 1-0 and are the leader in the group.
