Paris, June 4 -- France coach Didier Deschamps gave a fitness update on star players Kylian Mbappe and William Saliba ahead of their pre-FIFA World Cup friendlies, saying that the former is "in great shape, physically and psychologically" and that the latter will be missing Friday's friendly against the Ivory Coast.

France is placed in Group I in the tournament alongside Senegal, Iraq and Norway and will start their campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey. France enters the tournament as one of the favourites after their second triumph in the 2018 edition and a runners-up finish in the 2022 edition to Argentina.

France will play the Ivory Coast on Friday and later Northern Ireland on June 9 before their campaign opener.

Both ...