PARIS — French midfielder Adrien Rabiot is dealing with a slight calf injury, casting doubt on his participation in Sunday’s Nations League quarterfinal return leg against Croatia. During Thursday’s match in Split, where France suffered a 2-0 defeat, Rabiot was substituted midway through the second half.
In a pre-match press conference, France coach Didier Deschamps commented, “Rabiot has a calf issue and will not participate in training this Saturday evening. It seems unlikely he will be ready for tomorrow’s match.”
France, the winner of the Nations League in 2021, faced a defeat to Croatia 1-0 on home soil the previous year. As they prepare for Sunday’s game, France intends to honor their all-time leading scorer, Olivier Giroud. Giroud retired from international football last year, leaving behind an impressive record of 57 goals in 137 appearances for the national team.
Following Giroud’s footsteps, Thierry Henry ranks second with 51 goals, while Kylian Mbappé stands at 48. Mbappé notably missed chances to score in the latest encounter in Split.