France’s preparation for World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine hampered by Covid-19 hotel business

France were forced to change plans ahead of their first World Cup qualifying game against Ukraine after several positive cases of Covid-19 at their team hotel.
On the eve of the matches, the Blues generally stay at the Grand Hôtel d’Enghien-les-Bains, which is about twenty minutes from the Stade de France, but the world champions are now staying at Clairefontaine, more than an hour from the stadium, after hotel staff tested positive for Covid-19.

“We adapt. With several cases of Covid at the hotel, it was unthinkable to stay there, ”coach Didier Deschamps said at a press conference.

“It’s not ideal because our journey to get to the stadium will be longer, but we are comfortable at Clairefontaine. ”

France will start their campaign on Wednesday against Ukraine in Group D, which also includes Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Finland.

The Blues demolished Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly match last October, but their opponents were ravaged by a Covid-19 epidemic and were unable to field their best team in Paris.

“It’s not the same team that comes this time,” Deschamps warned. “They’re very good technically, they play a possession game and combine a lot on the flanks with their full-backs.

Ukraine defeated Germany and Spain in the League of Nations last October.

France will then travel to Kazakhstan on Sunday before a trip to Bosnia on March 31.