Could Didier Deschamps surprise Argentina? (Photo: Getty)

French coach Didier Deschamps made two surprising selections during his last training session before the World Cup final, choosing neither Raphael Varane nor Olivier Giroud in a training match.

The reigning champions face Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday afternoon and had a full roster of players to choose from after a pre-game virus scare.

Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman were all in isolation earlier this week, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Theo Hernandez struggled with punches.

But all 24 players in Deschamps’ squad are ready to take on Argentina and, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, he had the players trained in what appeared to be a rather tight starting eleven on Saturday night.

In the heart of the defence, however, Konate and Dayot Upamecano stood side by side as centre-backs.

It would be a huge surprise if veteran Manchester United defender Varane wasn’t in the starting line-up and Konate and Upamecano are more likely to serve together as a precaution.

Varane is doing much better after being hit by the same virus that prevented Adrien Rabiot and Upamecano from beating Morocco in the semi-finals and Deschamps is likely counting on a player who formed the basis of his long, successful tenure as coach.

Thuram (center) could start Sunday’s final on the left wing (Photo: Getty)

Perhaps more interestingly, Giroud was also absent from the XI training session in the final session and there is no evidence that the AC Milan striker is injured or ill.

Instead, Kylian Mbappé moved down the middle and Marcus Thuram played on the left wing, giving France a much better finish against Morocco.

Thuram brought speed, power and directness to the attack and was praised by Deschamps and his teammates for his impact off the bench.

The rest of Deschamps’ XI was as follows: Hugo Lloris; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, Thero Hernandez; Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram.

Deschamps is a bit in the dark about how Argentina will line up and has prepared for three different scenarios.

Lionel Scaloni could opt for a back three with Lisandro Martinez returning to defense on the left, or switch to a 4-3-3 with Angel Di Maria returning to the starting eleven on the right wing, or in the midfield formation stay, which Croatia overcame with Leandro Paredes in midfield.