A French World Cup star faces being separated from his team-mates due to a strict local law. Rather than a secluded out-of-town retreat, France have opted to base themselves in the plush Four Seasons hotel in Boston, where the 2022 runners-up will play their final group match.
The five-star hotel features all the mod-cons you would expect from a luxury establishment, including an entire wellness floor, plus swimming and plunge pools. However, one part of the hotel will be strictly off-limits to Warren Zaire-Emery due to his age.
The 20-year-old will not be allowed in the Aujourd'hui Bar. Massachusetts state law prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering an establishment that does not serve food, even if they are accompanied by an adult and do not consume alcohol.
Whether the rule is strictly enforced remains to be seen, given that Didier Deschamps' squad is unlikely to embark on any boozy benders during a tournament in which they are expected to go far.
Awkward Splitting
Also, the Aujourd'hui Bar is adjacent to the restaurant of the same name, making splitting Zaire-Emery, who doesn't turn 21 until March, from his team-mates rather awkward. The law doesn't affect his PSG colleague Desire Doue, who celebrated his 21st birthday on June 3.
The choice of a city centre hotel is an interesting one, given that France opted for isolated locations at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar. They have been placed in Group I with Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
Tournament Schedule
France kick off their campaign against Senegal in New Jersey on Tuesday before facing Iraq in Philadelphia on June 22 and Norway in Boston on June 26. It will be the final tournament of Deschamps' successful reign.
The former midfielder, who's won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, has been linked with the vacant Italy job. The Azzurri are in the doldrums after failing to qualify for a third successive World Cup.
France's star man Kylian Mbappe is hoping to end Deschamps' reign in style by winning the tournament again. He said: "The best way to pay tribute to him is to win because he loves to win. We're going to make sure he has the best of the recent World Cups. Hopefully, it will be his last because I hope he doesn't play for another team."
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