Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda was withdrawn from Didier Deschamps’ last squad after contracting Covid-19, while Paris Saint-Germain confirmed three other positive cases.
Mandanda was initially called up for the national team by Bleus ahead of their UEFA Nation League matches against Sweden and Croatia this month, alongside Tottenham striker Hugo Lloris and Lille Mike Maignan.
However, Deschamps will now have to insert a replacement for the 35-year-old, who tested positive for the coronavirus after the last round of testing in Clairefontaine.
Football Federation (FFP) have released an official statement confirming the news, which reads: "The tricolor goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will not participate in the next two matches of the Blues in Sweden and against Croatia, within the framework of the League of Nations." data-reactid="26">The French Football Federation (FFP) has released an official statement confirming the news, which reads: “The tricolor goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will not participate in the next two games of the Blues in Sweden and against Croatia, within the League of Nations.
“As required by UEFA regulations, the entire French team underwent a virological test on Wednesday 2 September early in the afternoon in Clairefontaine.
“Dr Franck Le Gall, the French team doctor, learned the results of all these tests on Thursday.
“Steve Mandanda tested positive for Covid-19 and the goalkeeper performed a second PCR test during the day. This new test was also positive.
“Steve Mandanda will therefore not be able to participate in the match in Sweden and will leave the squad on Friday morning”.
Mandanda will now embark on a two-week period of self-isolation before he can return to action with Marseille, as the new Ligue 1 season continues to be interrupted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Paris Saint-Germain has officially announced that three other players have contracted illness ahead of the opening match of the campaign against Lens, which is due to take place next Thursday.
The French champions will now be without six members of their first team for at least the next 14 days, with the club releasing the following update via their official Twitter account: “The latest SarsCoV2 PCR tests carried out within Paris Saint-Germain the team confirms the result of three new positive cases.
“These players follow the proper health protocol.”
Champions League final, and there is now a strong chance that the fixture will be rescheduled again in order to contain the latest outbreak of coronavirus." data-reactid="35">PSG’s clash with Lens had already been moved from 29 August to 10 September following their appearance in the Champions League final, and there is now a strong possibility that the match will be rescheduled to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak.
On 19 August Marseille witnessed the lifting of a curtain against Saint Etienne after announcing three positive cases, but were able to return to the field 11 days later by registering a 3-2 away win over Brest.
