France braced for New York heat against Sweden, fiercer still if Paraguay awaits | OneFootball

France will contend with high temperatures in New York on Tuesday for their World Cup round of 32 tie with Sweden, 23.00 in France. An even hotter scenario looms in Philadelphia on Saturday, with 40°C forecast at 23.00, if they reach the round of 16 against Paraguay.

According to L'Équipe, Monday’s session at Red Bulls Academy began under a brief cloud, around 29°C. Some players trained in vests as staff wheeled out ice-filled coolers and cooling scarves. Didier Deschamps urged focus and kept the workout brief.

Kick-off is 17.00 local, with forecasts between 29 and 31°C and cloudy spells. France handled heat in their opening New York win over Senegal, 3-1, yet conditions now could be more demanding. The staff had anticipated this weather for months.

At Clairefontaine, fitness coach Cyril Moine set recovery protocols built around tailored hydration at different temperatures, energy drinks and Yuyu bottles, an iced-water scarf placed on the neck. The staff chose not to stage a preparation camp in the United States. Moine has said proper acclimatisation would require two weeks in very high heat, which was not feasible.

France have largely avoided extreme heat so far, both before departure and, barring four or five early sessions in Waltham, since arriving. Conditioning specialist Xavier Frezza notes that limited acclimation can heighten heat stress, speed up dehydration and raise fatigue and cramp risk, without markedly reducing explosiveness. Staff have reinforced hydration guidance and rolled out pre and post-training cooling strategies already tested, hoping to blunt the impact this week.

Source: L'Équipe