The French national football team experienced a full squad for the first time since the rally began as they carried out a training session in Paderborn this Wednesday. Despite lacking technical precision, the session went on relatively smoothly until Theo Hernandez had to cut his involvement short after a brief exercise involving short-distance passing and headers. The AC Milan left-back went back to the locker room accompanied by selection doctor Franck Le Gall for undisclosed reasons.
On a more positive note, Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to the field earlier than expected. Initially scheduled to resume training around June 14, the Real Madrid midfielder joined the warm-up sessions with his usual vigor, completing medium-intensity sprints. However, he didn't fully participate in the striking exercises, favoring his recovery by avoiding work with his left foot. Tchouaméni's part-time return marks a critical step in his recovery from a stress fracture sustained on May 8 while playing for Real Madrid. Still, his participation in the upcoming match against Austria in Düsseldorf on June 17 remains uncertain.
Adrien Rabiot is also on the right path to recovery. The Juventus midfielder, having been sidelined since May 20 due to muscle fatigue, seemed in good shape during the session. He participated in all exercises without apparent pain and was actively involved in the opposition at the end of the training. Rabiot is slated to continue testing his fitness the following day.
Kylian Mbappé, who was spared at the kickoff against Canada in a goalless draw, showed no signs of discomfort during the session. The captain ended his training with several strikes on goal along with his partners.
- Theo Hernandez's early exit from the training session stems from a knee injury he sustained during Sunday's match against Canada. Accompanied by two members of the staff, his condition will be closely monitored in the coming days.
- Overall, the return of key players like Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot offers a glimmer of hope for the French squad as they prepare for their upcoming matches. The team's ability to train with a full group for the first time since the start of the rally is a promising sign, despite the challenges posed by injuries.