\n
\nSAINT-DENIS, France: Just two months before France begin their defense of the World Cup, the mood around the team is in stark contrast to the celebrations that followed their win over Croatia in the 2018 final.<\/p>\n
\nThe clouds have been gathering over coach Didier Deschamps and his squad as key players struggle with injuries and personal problems.<\/p>\n
\nMeanwhile, the French Football Federation (FFF) is locked in a row over image rights with its biggest star and its president faces accusations of inappropriate behavior.<\/p>\n
\nIt all threatens to derail France\u2019s campaign in Qatar.<\/p>\n
\nMore immediately, they go into their final matches before the World Cup this week against Austria and Denmark in the UEFA Nations League with a depleted squad.<\/p>\n
\nPaul Pogba, a goal-scorer in the 4-2 win over Croatia in 2018, is among the players sidelined.<\/p>\n
\nAs the Juventus star battles to recover from knee surgery he has filed a complaint with Italian prosecutors saying he was the target of a €13 million ($13m) blackmail plot.<\/p>\n
\nPogba\u2019s brother Mathias is one of five people charged and detained in the case.<\/p>\n
\nPaul Pogba reportedly told investigators he was effectively kidnapped by childhood acquaintances and threatened by two men in balaclavas carrying assault rifles, who accused him of not having helped them financially.<\/p>\n
\nThe ex-Manchester United midfielder also said the blackmailers wanted to discredit him by claiming he asked a witch doctor to cast a spell on Kylian Mbappe, another 2018 World Cup hero.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt is his word against his brother\u2019s. I am going to trust my teammate,\u201d Mbappe said recently of Pogba and those claims.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think it\u2019s in the interests of the national team as well with a big tournament coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMbappe himself is involved in a row with the FFF that risks damaging squad morale.<\/p>\n
\nOn Monday, their get-together at the chateau of Clairefontaine, an hour\u2019s drive from Paris, was overshadowed by Mbappe\u2019s refusal to participate in a photo shoot because of the FFF\u2019s unwillingness to modify an agreement regarding players\u2019 image rights.<\/p>\n
\nThe Paris Saint-Germain superstar has boycotted a shoot before, and on Monday the federation responded quickly, promising to \u201crevise as soon as possible the agreement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nMbappe\u2019s representatives insisted the matter \u201cobviously does not call into question his total commitment and determination to contribute to the collective success of the national team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMeanwhile, the FFF\u2019s veteran 80-year-old president is in the firing line.<\/p>\n
\nNoel Le Graet was last week summoned to a meeting with the country\u2019s Sports Minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera. The government then announced it was launching an audit of the federation.<\/p>\n
\nThat came after So Foot magazine published accusations that the FFF suffered from organizational problems and that some former employees had alleged they had been treated inappropriately.<\/p>\n
\nThe federation has launched legal action against the magazine.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not the calmest atmosphere that I have known,\u201d admitted Deschamps. \u201cBut it is not unsettling for me. My staff and I are focused on what is happening on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNevertheless, his squad will be without Hugo Lloris, N\u2019Golo Kante and Karim Benzema, as well as Pogba, for the upcoming games.<\/p>\n
\nJust five players from the 2018 final are involved, including recalled veteran Olivier Giroud.<\/p>\n
\nAmong the other members of the 2018 squad, Benjamin Mendy is on trial in England for multiple alleged sexual offenses that could finish his career.<\/p>\n
\nMendy last played for France in November 2019. Les Bleus went out of Euro 2020 to Switzerland in the last 16 but bounced back to win the Nations League last year.<\/p>\n
\nThat latter victory showcased the benefits of recalling Benzema \u2014 himself recently given a suspended sentence for complicity in a bid to blackmail a teammate.<\/p>\n
\nThe Real Madrid star is missing with a thigh injury but the absences could be no bad thing, forcing Deschamps to play emerging stars such as William Saliba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Christopher Nkunku.<\/p>\n
\nWhoever features this week, France need results.<\/p>\n
\nThey will be relegated from their Nations League group with defeat to Austria on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\nEven if they win, they may need three points against Denmark, one of their upcoming World Cup opponents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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