The importance of a player is measured by his absence and the defects he leaves. Adrien Rabiot’s in the semi-finals stood out on Wednesday as France suffered the Moroccan waves with a midfielder unable to stop attacks and make up ground, to breathe. It must be said that the package of the Juventus Turin player, discovered when the composition at the Al Bayt stadium was announced, hurt the French collective. Ill at the beginning of the week, victim of a virus circulating within the French group, Rabiot returned to training on Friday evening. And he will find a starting place this Sunday in the final, his first in a major international competition, clubs and selections together.
The best receiver against England
Installed as leader of midfield after the packages of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté for this World Cup, Rabiot, 27, has become essential in Didier Deschamps’ system. Against England in the quarter-finals it was he, with Dayot Upamecano, who recovered the most balls in the match (8), also capable of advancing with the ball at his feet to pierce or lengthen the opponent’s lines. Against Morocco, his size and impact on set pieces was also lacking. “Today he is a complete midfielder, Didier Deschamps said of him at the start of the competition. He defines himself as a balance player. He is not negative, he is not reductive. He is able to perform as much in defense as in attack. He has that intelligence. He hears and knows where he should be. In the World Cup final.
