Real Madrid star fit and firing as he shakes off injury scare ahead of France vs Spain semifinal | OneFootball

Football fans are awaiting perhaps the biggest blockbuster of this World Cup so far as France take on Spain in the first semifinal on Tuesday.

All eyes will be on the headline clash between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. But heading into this clash, there was a slight injury scare for star man Mbappe after he was forced off around the 77th minute against Morocco.

The Frenchman himself then later confirmed that the knock wasn’t serious and that he should be able to return to contention in the semifinal against Spain.

No cause for concern for Mbappe

Mbappe is fighting for the Golden Boot. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Now, a recent report from MARCA has offered a key update on Mbappe’s fitness, confirming that the Real Madrid striker took to the training pitch without any limitations following the ankle injury that forced him off in the last match.

In France, there was no cause for alarm, but the usual protocol was followed to avoid any complications.

Mbappe underwent a medical examination as soon as he sat on the bench, applied ice to reduce the swelling, and was monitored in the hours that followed.

He returned to training normally alongside the group of players who have accumulated the heaviest minutes, including Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, in a recovery session featuring running and activation exercises.

Two defensive doubts for France

Can Mbappe see off the Spanish threat? (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

While the news on Mbappe was positive, France did have a couple of question marks following their return to training after the rest day granted by Didier Deschamps.

Center-backs Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba, both of whom have been central to France’s run to the semifinals, were absent from the group training session, an absence that inevitably raised eyebrows.

Despite this, the French camp is projecting a sense of complete calm. Saliba has been managing back problems for several weeks, an issue that forced him to miss a number of sessions during the tournament without affecting his match availability.

Upamecano, meanwhile, has followed a specific workload management plan throughout the World Cup, incorporating individual training at various points to keep him fresh for the biggest matches.

The feeling within the French camp is that both defenders will be available for the semifinal, with the coaching staff simply exercising caution three days out from such a significant fixture.